Bertuzzi tired of high sticks to the face
TSN.ca Staff
1/23/2003
VANCOUVER (CP) - Taking the hacks, whacks and the cross-checks is just the cost of doing business in the NHL but Todd Bertuzzi said a high-stick to the face is too high a price for anyone to pay.
The Vancouver Canucks power forward was furious this week after a 3-2 loss to the Predators in Nashville where he was cut over the nose and gashed on the face in two separate high-sticking incidents. Neither drew a penalty.
Bertuzzi's temper finally boiled over, resulting in him pummelling Predators defenceman Karlis Skrastins in the game's dying seconds, breaking his nose.
After the game the outspoken Bertuzzi complained about the abuse he takes in front of the net while receiving little sympathy from the referees.
Bertuzzi refused to comment Thursday about the Predators sending a tape of the fight to the league and did his best to keep his razor-sharp tongue in check.
"The only thing I really have a problem with is in the past two weeks I've been high-sticked in the face and there haven't been calls," he said.
"Other than that I don't have an issue with anything else. I've been high-sticked close to the face and after hockey I'm going to need my eyes. It's frustrating when I get high-sticked in the face like that and there were no calls."
At six foot three and 245 pounds Bertuzzi is a bull on the ice. He uses his size and brute strength to muscle in front of the net, resulting in him being the Canucks second-leading scorer with 26 goals and 28 assists. His 54 points left him fifth in league scoring prior to Thursday night.
Bertuzzi sidestepped questions on whether small players receive preferred treatment from the officials.
"They are calling what they have to call out there," said the Sudbury, Ont., native.
"They are told what they have to do out there. We have to abide by the rules and can't complain."
On the ice the Bertuzzi isn't afraid to express his frustration at the referees. Bertuzzi levelled a reporter with a long, cold stare when he was asked if his constant jawing resulted in officials turning a blind eye to infractions against him.
"Everyone has their own call on everything," he snapped.
"I play my game and deal with what I can control. I get emotional sometimes. It's part of hockey."
Other members of the Canucks said Bertuzzi's crash and bash style results in him being subjected to more abuse from opposing players.
"You don't have many options," said Trevor Linden. "You either get beat by him or you grab onto him. He's bigger than everyone else. They have no option to grab onto him."
Linden agreed high-sticking should be called but doubted if the cuts on Bertuzzi were intentional.
"I would say 90 per cent of sticks in the face are accident," he said.
"They happen. It should have been called."
Matt Cooke, a pest in the first order while on the ice, laughed when asked if Bertuzzi was a marked man.
"I don't think he's a marked man, he's the best power forward in the game," said Cooke. "He's not a hard guy to find. Todd's a guy that plays hard in the dirty areas. When Todd gets a guy beat there's a lot more to grab onto or hook."
Cooke shook his head when asked if Bertuzzi talks too much at the referees for his own good.
"You call the game one way," he said. "Whether a players yaps or not the call should be made."
Cheers,
Aquaman