Steve Moore Wins Small Battle Against Todd Bertuzzi
Former Avalanche player Steve Moore won a small battle in his $38 million suit against current Red Wing Todd Bertuzzi. The lawsuit stems from the infamous incident on March 8th, 2004, in which Bertuzzi, then a Vancouver Canuck, sucker punched Steve Moore from behind, knocked Moore out, broke his neck and ended his playing career.
In the decision released Thursday, settlements in two cases must be revealed to Moore’s lawyers. The first is a suit filed by Bertuzzi against former Vancouver coach Marc Crawford. The second is a suit submitted by the Canucks management group stating that Bertuzzi acted alone. This will allow Moore’s lawyers to have a united front against their opposition. The official lawsuit is not set to take place until September 22 of this year.
The Betuzzi incident remains one of the darkest days in the NHL. The whole controversy stemmed from a hit by Steve Moore on Canucks’ captain Marcus Naslund. The hit to the head cost Naslund three games with a concussion, but the league ruled that the hit was clean and did not punish the rookie Moore.
Coach Marc Crawford and General Manager Brian Burke were both very critical of the incident, while Canuck forward Brad May put a bounty on Moore’s head for the hit. However, in the next game between the two teams in Colorado, Moore was unchallenged by any Vancouver player and the game ended in a tie.
In the following game between the two teams in Vancouver, Steve Moore was challenged to a fight by Matt Cooke and served a five-minute fighting penalty. The Avs blew out the Canucks in the game and then things got out of hand. Bertuzzi delivered the punch, which sparked a pile up and Moore was unconscious on the ice.
Moore would never play hockey again. Bertuzzi, who was given an indefinite suspension, sat out the rest of the season and then was allowed back into the league after the NHL’s lockout. He currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings. Commissioner Gary Bettman, the Colorado Avalanche organization, and Bertuzzi tried to forget about the incident. Bettman even tried to get Moore and Bertuzzi to settle out of court. For Avalanche fans and Moore supporters, it will never be forgotten, but there is hope that a legal victory will provide some solace.
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