The NHL announced on Monday that Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella is suspended for 15 days without pay for an altercation in the hallway outside of the Calgary Flames locker room during the first intermission of Saturday's game following an on-ice brawl that opened up the game. The Canucks eventually won 3-2.
Flames coach Bob Hartley was fined $25,000 for his responsibility for the fight that took place off of the opening faceoff due to "conduct prejudicial to or against the welfare of the league."
"Mr. Tortorella's actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the league," said Colin Campbell, senior vice president of hockey operations, in a statement via ESPN. "Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game."
The whole incident escalated when the Flames started the game by putting out their fourth line to which Tortorella and the Canucks responded by putting their tough guys out on the ice to start the game. As soon as the puck was dropped to start the game, a line brawl broke out. Only two seconds ticked off the clock when all five members of each team on the ice dropped the gloves and started throwing punches.
Following the brawl, which left some players ejected and one bloodied, CBC cameras caught Tortorella attempting to go into the Calgary Flames locker room at Rogers Arena in Vancouver while Calgary enforcer Brian McGrattan pushed him away.
Tortorella and McGrattan were then separated, but Flames' goaltender coach Clint Malarchuk tried to get at Tortorella until he was restrained by some members of the Flames staff. Tortorella was chastised by the league for his actions.
"Mr. Tortorella's suspension is retroactive to Sunday and runs through Feb. 2, a total of six games. He is not allowed to have any interaction with the team prior to, during or after games," the statement said per ESPN.
The Canucks gave a statement about the incident afterwards:
"We respect the decision made by the National Hockey League today to suspend John Tortorella for 15 days from Sunday, with no contact with the team for six games, said team president and general manager Michael D. Gillis per ESPN. "We would also like to acknowledge our organization's full support for John and we look forward to having him back behind the bench soon."
The league released a statement about Hartley's fine as well.
"We are holding Mr. Hartley responsible for the actions of Flames' right wing [Kevin] Westgarth, who took the game's opening faceoff and attempted to instigate a premeditated fight with an unwilling opponent -- the Canucks' Kevin Bieksa," the statement read, according to ESPN.
Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke issued a statement in response.
"I am perplexed by this fine," the statement reads via ESPN. "I stand behind Bob Hartley completely in this regard and remain confident that he acted properly in every aspect of this game."
The Canucks and Flames play again on March 8 in Vancouver.
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