Mario, We Hardly Knew Ye

It doesn't surprise me anymore when I see hits to the head in professional hockey. My feelings vary each time I watch a player being crushed by a flying elbow or a massive and purposeful shove from behind. Disgust? Definitely. Sadness? Most of the time. Concern? Always. But surprise? Not now, not anymore not after the past two seasons, not after watching what all of the fans have had to watch, watching what the injured players have been forced to endure, watching as the most powerful people in the league sit idly by as their best players move from the ice to the infirmary. Fans speak of change, but smarter hockey pundits than you or I tell us that change will be slow, and it will be done the right way, and most importantly it will be done in a way that will not "ruin the game as it is meant to be played."

The hockey world has had some time to digest the latest cheap shot by Colin Campbell's best customer, Matt Cooke. Keeping in mind that the Cooke's longest suspension prior to the massive gauntlet thrown down by the leagues yard duty supervisor was 10 games. This hiatus for Mr. Cooke (and the loss of over 200,000 dollars that Cooke has to live without) should be cause for praise by the fans of all hockey teams, they may have just gotten one right for once. Although many would have slept fine at night had Cooke been told to pack his bags and never look back, it's hard for the league to rule in such a way with a lack of precedence.

I know that grinders are necessary in the hockey world. Third and fourth line guys are critical to a teams success especially come playoff time (Vancouver's chance at a cup is gone now thanks to the horrific injury to Manny Malhotra). Matt Cooke is not a grinder, he is not an agitator, he is not a faceoff specialist and he is not  a fighter. He is however a menace to the game and represents exactly what is wrong with the current NHL.

What can be done? Well the ball is in Pittsburgh's court. Mario Lemieux is a hockey deity, all who know even a little about hockey know of him and recognize his importance to the sport itself. Most fans know where Mario Lemieux is located in the great pantheon of NHL legends, but where does he fit in as a catalyst of positive change for the game that he played so well? Matt Cooke can not be on a team come puck drop next year, and it is up to Mario to make sure it happens.

Such a decision may seem unfair to Cooke, who has a family to provide for. Cooke, who has also proclaimed that he will change for the better and that his days of dirty hits are behind him. Matt Cooke had the chance to change already, he has had plenty of chances to transform himself into an energy player rather than a player every fan hates for all the wrong reasons. How Cooke could watch his captain, and the best player in the world, take a hit to the head and still go out on the ice and continue to put other players at risk with his dangerous play? That sets off alarm bells in this fans head.

As for his family? I thought about that too. Every time I think about how Matt Cooke won't be able to provide for his family I picture Marc Savard, not being able to provide for his own family, his own children anymore thanks to Cooke's reckless and horrific elbow last season. I wonder if Marc Savard can work out? Watch TV? Sit in a room with lights on? And every time I think that way I'm filled with those same feelings, disgust, sadness,concern, always.

But surprise? Not a chance.