OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

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Inglewood Jack
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OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Inglewood Jack »

Do you believe in second changes after a play like this?

https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/breaking-n ... 12831.html

Suspension, definitely, but this is beyond reinstatement IMO. Not some borderline play. Yeah it is easy to lose control, but this is criminal. Lifetime ban worthy if not a court date.

Sorry if this was already posted.
dhsux
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by dhsux »

Deliberate and egregious.

That guys got a serious problem going on, hope the victim is ok.
TruBlueFan_1970
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by TruBlueFan_1970 »

dhsux wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:09 am Deliberate and egregious.

That guys got a serious problem going on, hope the victim is ok.
Spot on. You’d think after you hit a guy in the head, you’d realize what you did, but then he proceeds to crosscheck him in the back while he’s on the ground. No place for that kind of violence in any sport.
Absolut
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Absolut »

Should be arrested.
Backesdraft
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Backesdraft »

Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:26 am Should be arrested.
I just don’t understand what a guy must be thinking to take a whack at another guys head like that. Just brutal…and then the cross check once the player is already on the ice. Jesus…

Still, I struggle with the idea of plays like this leading to arrests. Not saying I agree or disagree necessarily, but it’s a slippery slope. I definitely feel a substantial suspension is warranted, maybe even a life altering type suspension. But once you let the actual police start policing a sport…where does that end?
Absolut
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Absolut »

Backesdraft wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:41 am
Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:26 am Should be arrested.
I just don’t understand what a guy must be thinking to take a whack at another guys head like that. Just brutal…and then the cross check once the player is already on the ice. Jesus…

Still, I struggle with the idea of plays like this leading to arrests. Not saying I agree or disagree necessarily, but it’s a slippery slope. I definitely feel a substantial suspension is warranted, maybe even a life altering type suspension. But once you let the actual police start policing a sport…where does that end?
I see the point. In sports you consent to what’s within the scope of the game. I’d argue that swinging your stick like that at a guys head, from being, is well beyond.
AL57
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by AL57 »

Backesdraft wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:41 am
Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:26 am Should be arrested.
I just don’t understand what a guy must be thinking to take a whack at another guys head like that. Just brutal…and then the cross check once the player is already on the ice. Jesus…

Still, I struggle with the idea of plays like this leading to arrests. Not saying I agree or disagree necessarily, but it’s a slippery slope. I definitely feel a substantial suspension is warranted, maybe even a life altering type suspension. But once you let the actual police start policing a sport…where does that end?
Yeah, I agree with this...but man, that was brutal. I kept watching the video to see if the guy did anything to (bleep) him off that much; there wasn't a penalty called on the play....a suspension for the remainder of the year is warranted....and some psych therapy...
Backesdraft
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Backesdraft »

Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:53 am
Backesdraft wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:41 am
Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:26 am Should be arrested.
I just don’t understand what a guy must be thinking to take a whack at another guys head like that. Just brutal…and then the cross check once the player is already on the ice. Jesus…

Still, I struggle with the idea of plays like this leading to arrests. Not saying I agree or disagree necessarily, but it’s a slippery slope. I definitely feel a substantial suspension is warranted, maybe even a life altering type suspension. But once you let the actual police start policing a sport…where does that end?
I see the point. In sports you consent to what’s within the scope of the game. I’d argue that swinging your stick like that at a guys head, from being, is well beyond.
Well said. Perfect counter argument.
Rollin' on the River
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Rollin' on the River »

Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:26 am Should be arrested.
Agreed.

With hefty fines for the head coach AND club management for failing to control their players.

Next time maybe teams will be more selective about who gets a privilege like the CHL roster spot
Army's Mom
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Army's Mom »

Backesdraft wrote: 09 Jan 2026 09:17 am
Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:53 am
Backesdraft wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:41 am
Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:26 am Should be arrested.
I just don’t understand what a guy must be thinking to take a whack at another guys head like that. Just brutal…and then the cross check once the player is already on the ice. Jesus…

Still, I struggle with the idea of plays like this leading to arrests. Not saying I agree or disagree necessarily, but it’s a slippery slope. I definitely feel a substantial suspension is warranted, maybe even a life altering type suspension. But once you let the actual police start policing a sport…where does that end?
I see the point. In sports you consent to what’s within the scope of the game. I’d argue that swinging your stick like that at a guys head, from being, is well beyond.
Well said. Perfect counter argument.
Agree with both sides, well stated above.

For me, it comes down to the likelihood and severity of injury and preventing that from happening again. Do we need the legal system involved to prevent a repeat? Or can the governing body adopt a severe enough punishment to deter this?

Of course, if it were my boy laid out like that amd the injury was permanent/career threatening, I'd be screaming for prosecution regardless of other deterrence measures...
Backesdraft
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Backesdraft »

see
Army's Mom wrote: 09 Jan 2026 09:46 am
Backesdraft wrote: 09 Jan 2026 09:17 am
Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:53 am
Backesdraft wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:41 am
Absolut wrote: 09 Jan 2026 08:26 am Should be arrested.
I just don’t understand what a guy must be thinking to take a whack at another guys head like that. Just brutal…and then the cross check once the player is already on the ice. Jesus…

Still, I struggle with the idea of plays like this leading to arrests. Not saying I agree or disagree necessarily, but it’s a slippery slope. I definitely feel a substantial suspension is warranted, maybe even a life altering type suspension. But once you let the actual police start policing a sport…where does that end?
I see the point. In sports you consent to what’s within the scope of the game. I’d argue that swinging your stick like that at a guys head, from being, is well beyond.
Well said. Perfect counter argument.
Agree with both sides, well stated above.

For me, it comes down to the likelihood and severity of injury and preventing that from happening again. Do we need the legal system involved to prevent a repeat? Or can the governing body adopt a severe enough punishment to deter this?

Of course, if it were my boy laid out like that amd the injury was permanent/career threatening, I'd be screaming for prosecution regardless of other deterrence measures...
And that’s another good point. How different do you feel if this is your son/daughter? That’s what makes this kind of situation so difficult.

Also wonder how the fans on each side feel. That’d be an interesting research project.

Good points all around folks.
Blues Dave
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by Blues Dave »

Hockey is a tough sport. It's within the rules to get a longer penalty if you draw blood. Fighting is OK, again, just more penalty minutes. I like the rough stuff and everything else about the game. But hitting a player with your stick in the head fom behind opens the door for those folks who want to change the game and get rid of all the rough stuff that makes hockey what it is. This is terrible and has no place at all in the game. I'll leave to the league to decide how severe the punishment should be. Including fines ,compensation, etc. But I agree this should not be tolorated.
blackinkbiz
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by blackinkbiz »

Inglewood Jack wrote: 09 Jan 2026 07:56 am Do you believe in second changes after a play like this?

https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/breaking-n ... 12831.html

Suspension, definitely, but this is beyond reinstatement IMO. Not some borderline play. Yeah it is easy to lose control, but this is criminal. Lifetime ban worthy if not a court date.

Sorry if this was already posted.
In every league, there's far too many guys who use their curve on their blade like a lasso around a calf's neck when they're defending against puck carriers. I had a guy doing this to me the entire game in a rec league once. If I were a woman I probably could have filed sodomy charges.

Instead, after about the 7th penetration and the ref still not blowing his whistle I turned around and whacked him on top of the helmet. And, to be perfectly honest, I still to this day feel it was completely justified and deserved. He had a helmet on so it was totally harmless because I hit all helmet. But I did it in the heat of the moment and didn't aim at all.

So, in my worthless opinion, the act of whacking another guy with the stick in itself is defensible, but if you take your time to aim for the exposed face, and follow it up with a crosscheck once the guy's down.... eh, hard to justify that in any way.
hockey jedi
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by hockey jedi »

IMHO, who knows if he was just trying to hit him on the helmet. He was PO and made a bad decision. I don't know this kid was on a path beyond junior, but if he is allowed to continue with hockey, this will always follow him around.
bluetunehead
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by bluetunehead »

I know we’re all jaded hockey fans who are used to a certain degree of violence in the game, but imagine that moment happening in baseball? Obviously a stick isn’t as big as a bat, but it’s honestly absurd to think about. This kind of play should get the guy banned, period. It’s bad enough that he hit him, but then to follow up with the hit to the back like it wasn’t already clear that he had crossed a line. Good riddance.
PregnantNun
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Re: OHL - Betruzzi Like.... Lifetime Ban???

Post by PregnantNun »

Inglewood Jack wrote: 09 Jan 2026 07:56 am Do you believe in second changes after a play like this?

https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/breaking-n ... 12831.html

Suspension, definitely, but this is beyond reinstatement IMO. Not some borderline play. Yeah it is easy to lose control, but this is criminal. Lifetime ban worthy if not a court date.

Sorry if this was already posted.
I believe in 2nd chances most of the time, but the 2nd chance in this case is legal and jail related. No, he shouldn't be allowed to play hockey again.
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