NHL Player Who Broke Opposing Player’s Neck Says “My Coach Made Me Do It”

Three years ago, Steve Moore suffered a severe concussion and a broken neck during a game against the Vancouver Canucks. At the time, Todd Bertuzzi (currently with the Anaheim Ducks) was in charge of Canick-ing anything that would come near him. So when Moore skated by him during the third period of a regular season 2004 game, Bertuzzi pounced by punching Moore in the head and sending him face first into the thick ice. Snap. Moore didn’t die, or anything, but Bertuzzi was given a 17 month ban and plead guilty to assault causing bodily harm. Three years later, the saga continues with allegations that Bertuzzi’s then-coach Marc Crawford (currently in Los Angeles) ordered the pummeling:

A statement of claim filed in court by Moore’s lawyer and obtained by CBC alleges that Crawford pointed to Moore’s name and number on a board in the Canucks’ locker room during the second intermission of that game and said “… [Moore] must pay the price.”

Let bygones be bygones? Hell nah. Crawford fired back:

“I don’t think this is the forum to be talking about that,” he said. “We’ve got enough of our own issues here with the Los Angeles Kings. Those are the things that I’m concerned about. I’m not concerned about anything that’s said otherwise.”

He’s right. The Kings are 10-15, which translates to rotten garbage. But we read a book on Karma once and it said Crawford better watch his neck. Literally. Even “John Kreese” from Karate Kid suffered bloody knuckles in the sequel for that “sweep the leg” stunt.
The video:

Bertuzzi attack ordered? [SI]
Image [CBC]
Video [YouTube]