Apologetic Bertuzzi Faces Punishment

A tearful Todd Bertuzzi, claiming he’s “not a mean-spirited person,” apologized to Steve Moore on Wednesday for the blindside punch Monday that left Moore with two broken bones in his neck, a concussion and several bloody cuts.

The NHL, however, is not expected to show much mercy today when it announces sanctions against Bertuzzi, a ruling that will affect the league’s image and perceptions of whether its justice is even-handed when a star player is the transgressor.

Bertuzzi, a two-time All-Star with the Vancouver Canucks, was suspended without pay for striking Moore, a rookie forward with the Colorado Avalanche. Bertuzzi and Canuck General Manager Brian Burke attended an hour-long hearing in Toronto on Wednesday before Colin Campbell, the NHL’s director of hockey operations and chief disciplinarian. A representative of the NHL Players’ Assn. was also present.

Bertuzzi returned to Vancouver for a news conference Wednesday night. Frequently wiping away tears, he directed his first comments to Moore, who remains at a Vancouver hospital and is out for the season.

“Steve, I just want to apologize for what happened out there. I had no intent of hurting you and I feel awful about what transpired,” Bertuzzi said. “To Steve’s family, I’m sorry that you had to go through this and I’m sorry again, for what happened out there.”

He paused to gather his composure and added, “I’m relieved to hear that Steve’s going to have a full recovery. It means a lot to me to hear that.”

He also apologized to Canuck executives and his teammates. “To the fans of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch the game, I’m truly sorry,” he said. “I don’t play the game that way.”

Bertuzzi had tugged on Moore’s jersey several times, apparently attempting to draw Moore into a fight. When Moore resisted, Bertuzzi punched him from the side. Moore fell and the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Bertuzzi fell on top of him. The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News reported Moore was able to talk to teammates when they visited him Tuesday. “I just have to wear this stylish [neck] brace for a while,” he told them.

Bertuzzi might also face an assault charge, pending the outcome of a Vancouver police investigation that is expected to take several weeks.