Patrice Cormier Accepts Year-Long Ban; His Team? Not So Much

Patrice Cormier, the New Jersey Devils prospect who sent Quebec's Mikael Tam into convulsions on the ice after nailing him in the head with a flagrant elbow, was suspended by the QMJHL on Monday for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. His club is now appealing that decision.

Here's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies general manager Andre Tourigny, speaking at a news conference Tuesday.

We were fully aware that the gesture had to be severely sanctioned. According to us, the sanction delivered by the QMJHL (Monday) is not severe . . . it is excessive.

Tourigny went on to say that Cormier does not deserve to suffer the consequences of other vicious hits and that he does not deserve to be the scapegoat for other incidents. "One person alone cannot carry that heavy responsibility," he said.

Cormier originally accepted the ban, saying through his agent that he "fully accepts" the decision and that he, of course, wishes Tam a speedy recovery. The Devils also echoed the words of their prospect, even hanging him out to dry in some ways by saying the organization "does not condone Patrice Cormier's actions."

Following the team presser, Cormier slightly backtracked, saying that he respects the league's decision but does think that it's too severe. Could he be doing this because he was asked to by his club? Cormier had just been acquired by the Huskies days before the incident as they prepare for a deep run in the QMJHL playoffs, and he's a crucial cog in their lineup.

It's hard to blame the guy for this change in phrasing, given that he probably never even sees these statements as they're released by the public relations people that surround him. Regardless, though, Cormier doesn't come out looking like the remorseful soul who simply had a lapse in judgment. "He's not even a man of his word," said Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy.

And the Huskies? They look even worse than Tam did as he lay shaking on the ice surface in front of a horrified crowd.