Ben Harpur, a former NHL player now with the Hartford Wolf Pack, recently collided forcefully with the opposing goaltender, resulting in significant disciplinary action.
The tradition of on-ice retaliation and self-regulation has been a long-standing aspect of hockey, contributing to the sport’s intensity when managed appropriately. However, situations can escalate when players cross the line.
This behavior has been a common occurrence in the game for years. In a recent AHL matchup between the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Rochester Americans, Harpur aggressively charged at goalie Felix Sandstrom with clear intent to hit. This reckless act led to a five-minute major penalty and a match penalty, leaving fans confused by his decision to target the netminder.
Harpur, who was picked in the fourth round by the Senators in the 2013 NHL Draft and has nearly 200 games of experience in the league, has struggled to secure a consistent position in the NHL, and incidents like this shed light on why. His outburst was an unprofessional maneuver that could have seriously injured Sandstrom.
Context soon emerged regarding Harpur’s actions, revealing that Sandstrom had inadvertently tripped him while trying to move across the crease to make a save. Since this incident was unintentional, Harpur’s reaction was excessive and put Sandstrom, who harbored no ill intent, at risk. It is unreasonable to interpret a save attempt as a deliberate trip.
Given past suspensions for similar behavior, a penalty of three games or more seems plausible, and it’s rightly warranted, as such incidents have no place in the sport, regardless of the game’s intensity.
