BARCH APOLOGIZES
Krystofer Barch apologized Thursday after drawing a one-game suspension from the NHL for making an inappropriate comment to the Montreal Canadiens’ P.K. Subban, who is black.
But the Florida Panthers forward said his remark wasn’t racially motivated. Barch was ejected after speaking out at the end of the first period of the Panthers’ 3-2 win last Saturday. When Subban lost his balance after a fight with Panthers defenceman Erik Gudbranson, Barch yelled in Subban’s direction that it looked as if the Habs defenceman had slipped on a banana peel, sources told the
“It may have been inappropriate, but it was nowhere along the lines of racial slur,” Barch said.“the things I said were pretty explicit, maybe not for kids’ ears. That’s why I really can’t repeat what I said, because it wouldn’t come across ... my grandma wouldn’t want to hear it. Put it that way.” FANS SOUGHT IN BEATING While the New York Rangers won the Winter Classic in Philadelphia on Monday, a couple of their fans apparently paid the price.
The Philadelphia police department has released surveillance video of an attack after the game in the hopes of identifying three suspects involved in beating two men wearing Rangers jerseys.
The video shows the suspects wearing Flyers jerseys beating and kicking the two victims outside a steakhouse in south Philadelphia.
One of the victims was an offduty police officer from Woodbridge, N.J. He has been released from hospital but is on medical leave until cleared to return to active duty. NHLEYES MICHIGAN CLASSIC The NHL has held talks with the University of Michigan about holding next year’s Winter Classic at the Big House. “We have been approached by the NHL about utilizing our facility for the 2013 Winter Classic,” University of Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said, according to Annarbor.com.
“There are a lot of complex circumstances that need to be ironed out before anything moves forward. We will have more to say if/when something materializes.”
Michigan’s stadium holds more than 100,000 spectators.
There has been speculation about the Detroit Red Wings playing in an outdoor game, but Wings owner Mike Ilitch also owns the Detroit Tigers and the much-smaller Comerica Park. HIGH SCHOOLER PARALYZED A high school hockey player in Minnesota who was paralyzed after a hit last week is unlikely to regain the use of his legs or his arms from the elbows down, his surgeon said Thursday. Jack Jablonski, 16, of Benilde-st. Margaret’s High School underwent surgery Wednesday. He was hit from behind and crashed head-first into the boards in a junior varsity tournament game last week.