Steve Moore

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
position = Forward
played_for = Colorado Avalanche
shot = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 205
nationality = CAN
birth_date = September 22, 1978 (age 30)
birth_place = Thornhill, ON
draft = 53rd overall
draft_year = 1998
draft_team = Colorado Avalanche
career_start = 2001
career_end = 2004

Steve Moore (born September 22, 1978 in Thornhill, Ontario) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player, perhaps best known for his role in a series of controversial incidents with the Vancouver Canucks that ultimately led to the end of his playing career.

Playing career

Steve Moore was an NHL player for the Colorado Avalanche. Born 22nd Sep 1978, Moore played as a centre. His height is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and his weight during the time he played was 210 lb (95 kg). [cite web | title=Steve Moore | url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/2615/career | publisher=Yahoo! Sports | accessdate=2007-01-07]

Moore and his brothers played for Harvard University. His brother Dominic is a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in the second round, being 53rd pick overall. Moore played in 69 games for the Avalanche from 2001 to 2004, scoring five goals and seven assists before being seriously injured by Todd Bertuzzi who at the time played for the Vancouver Canucks.

Due to continued post-concussion syndrome, Colorado opted not to give him a qualifying offer after his rookie contract expired. To date Moore has not returned to professional hockey.

Moore, via his lawyer Tim Danson, filed a civil lawsuit against both Bertuzzi and the Vancouver Canucks in a Colorado court. It was dismissed as the judge felt that British Columbia was the more appropriate location.

The Bertuzzi Retribution Punch

On 16th February 2004, during a Vancouver-Colorado game, Moore injured Canucks team captain Markus Näslund by checking him in the head area while Näslund was reaching for a puck ahead of him with his head down. This was after the whistle, and Moore extended his elbow as seen from the front view replay. No penalty was called on the play, but Näslund suffered a concussion and a bone chip in his elbow as a result of the hit, and missed three games. Moore's hit on Näslund drew much criticism from the Canucks and their fans, but the NHL ruled that the hit was not illegal and did not fine or suspend Moore. Canucks head coach Marc Crawford and general manager Brian Burke publicly criticized the non-call by the referees on the incident. Vancouver players indicated that they would get even with Moore, with left winger Brad May stating that he would put a bounty on Moore's head.

During the next game between the Canucks and Avalanche held in Denver, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL executive vice-president Colin Campbell attended the game, which ended in a tie and saw no major incidents break out.

However, on 8 March, 2004, during another rematch between the Avalanche and Canucks, things went differently. In the first period, Moore fought Vancouver player Matt Cooke in a fairly even brawl, and served the 5-minute penalty for fighting. The Avalanche would go on to build up a large lead in a fight-filled game. Late in the third period, Todd Bertuzzi was sent onto the ice. After failing to instigate Moore to fight, Bertuzzi skated after him for a long period before punching Moore in the head from behind and falling upon him. Moore was knocked out, and lay motionless for ten minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. [ESPN Game Summary. 28th March 2004. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=240308022] ] He sustained three fractured neck vertebrae , facial cuts and a severe concussion.

Bertuzzi was immediately suspended by the NHL for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. The suspension also barred him from playing in any international tournaments or leagues during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. Commissioner Gary Bettman reinstated Bertuzzi for the 2005-06 season.

On 22 August, 2004, Moore was released from a Denver-area hospital. He wore a neck brace for 1 year and then started physical therapy for his neck injury and concussion.

Career statistics

References

ee also

* List of NHL players
* Notable families in the NHL
* Violence in ice hockey

External links

* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1103806928681_237 Victim Impact Statement]
* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20041224/Bertuzzi_moore_041223?s_name=&no_ads= Moore 'disappointed' by Crown's plea bargain]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/08/08/bertuzzi050808.html Bertuzzi reinstated by the NHL]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqZOR9p8qas Video of Incident]
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