An ugly incident at the Memorial Cup entered the hockey spotlight on a night the Kitchener Rangers secured a spot in the tournament final.
Chicoutimi Sagueneens overage defenceman Jordan Tourigny put his team at a huge disadvantage when he decided to use his skate as a weapon on Tuesday in a game against the Rangers.
Tourigny stomped on the side of the skate of Rangers winger Christian Humphreys three times while battling for the puck at the corner boards midway through the third period.
Humphreys, a Colorado Avalanche draft pick, went down in agony, though play continued. When Humphreys got up, he immediately went to the bench and left the game.
The refs originally called a five-minute major on Tourigny, allowing them to review the play. They then tagged Tourigny with a match penalty for kicking.
“Well, that's a cowardice play stomping with the skate. That's not tough hockey, that's coward hockey, that's not in our values," Rangers coach Jussi Ahokas told reporters after his team's 3-2 win.. "If someone does that, that's cheap, cheapest thing (that) you can do in hockey for me."
"... I like tough hockey, I like physical hockey, but that's nothing to do with playing well."
The Sagueneens (1-2 at the Memorial Cup) were down 3-1 at the time and went on to lose, sealing a spot for Kitchener in the tourney final.
Ahokas had no update on Humphreys' condition after the game against the QMJHL champions.
"It's obviously terrible. You never want to see a guy go down like that," Rangers star Sam O'Reilly said. "Obviously, it's not a hockey play and it's not how we play the game."
The QMJHL later put out a statement about the incident and some of the ensuing social-media reaction.
"Jordan Tourigny made a regrettable play in the third period, one he deeply regrets," the league said.
"However, the hate, threats, and violent messages being directed at him on social media have absolutely no place in our game or in our community.
"Our players are young athletes between the ages of 16 and 20. They deserve respect and support, even in difficult moments. Hockey is a game. Please treat these players with dignity. Thank you."
The NHL Department of Player Safety is responsible for post-game reviews at the Memorial Cup, and will determine if Tourigny faces more discipline.
The Sagueneens are assured of a spot in at least a tiebreaker.
Picked up in a mid-season trade with the Shawinigan Cataractes, Tourigny had eight goals and eight assists in 20 QMJHL playoff games.
Tourigny made a verbal commitment in January to play NCAA hockey at Northeastern next season.
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