On March 19, 2009, the Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2. In the first period, Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals’ star and last year’s league MVP notched his 50th goal. After the goal, he celebrated by dropping his stick and acting as if it were too hot to pick up. If we were talking about the NFL, this would not be worth mentioning, but in hockey, you can knock out the opponent’s front teeth, but you shouldn’t be over zealous in celebrating a goal.
The coach for Tampa Bay is Rick Tocchet. He was upset about the celebration and said, “I grew up in the old days in the Spectrum [Philly arena] where in the first period, after that happened, it might have been a three-hour first period.” There are three periods in a hockey game. Each lasts twenty minutes on the clock. It usually takes 30 – 40 minutes to play a period. Tocchet’s three-hour period would have consisted mostly of brawling. Blood on the ice is consistent with hockey etiquette.
The name Rick Tocchet sets me off. Back in March 1997 (so what if it was 12 years ago), the Capitals entered into a trade with Boston which brought Adam Oates and Rick Tocchet to Washington. Oates showed up and became a big part of the Capitals. Tocchet let it be known that he didn’t want to be here and left the first chance he got. He mentioned that he had played in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Boston and wanted to play where there was a rich hockey tradition. I felt bad, but I understood that Washington, back then, did not have a “rich hockey tradition.” So where did Tocchet go? He went to Phoenix! In the term “rich hockey tradition,” the emphasis was on the word “rich.” Where will I get the most bucks.
My personal view on the “hot stick celebration” is that it was probably too close to the Tampa Bay goalie. Using an NFL analogy, you don’t spike the football at the feet of the defensive safety. I don’t think there was any intention to embarrass the goalie, but, Alex, move a little farther away. But to have Rick Tocchet playing the roll of the righteous indignant observer boggles my mind.
In February 2006, Tocchet was served with a criminal complaint accusing him of financing a nationwide sports gambling ring based in New Jersey. Janet Jones, the Great Gretzky’s wife, was also charged. In May 2006, Tocchet and Jones notified New Jersey that they intended to sue for 50 million dollars for defamation (back before the Obama Administration, that used to be a lot of money). Anyway, the ploy didn’t work.
On May 25, 2007, Tocchet pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling. It’s unfortunate when one is caught conducting criminal activity, but if someone is over zealous in celebrating a goal, then one is required to indignantly speak out.
Tocchet said that Ovechkin “went down a notch in my books.” Well, I only have one such book and Tocchet can’t get much lower. I will try not to be too over zealous in my celebration when Tampa Bay (24-52) fires him.
