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Rypien suspended 6 games for roughing fan, Canucks fined

Heidi Pope Werner Written by Heidi Pope Werner, Saturday October 23 2010
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Vancouver Canucks enforcer Rick Rypien was suspended six games for grabbing a fan on his way to the locker room Tuesday night after being assessed a double minor for roughing and 10-minute misconduct call. The Canucks were fined $25,000 per NHL policy.

Rypien grabbed an applauding fan from the stands, while team Manny Malhotra pulled Rypien away. With nine goals and six assists in 113 career NHL games, Rypien will be eligible to return Nov. 6 against Detroit. His pay has also been suspended.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Prior to each season, all clubs and players are advised that under no circumstances are club personnel permitted to have physical contact with fans, or enter, or attempt to enter the stands."

Apparently, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called the fan,apologized and offered to treat the fan to dinner and an NHL game. The fan called the move "classy," but felt the punishment was weak. Rypien grabbed the fan's shirt but didn't throw a punch. The fan, 28-year-old James Engquist said he hasn't hired a lawyer but is looking at his legal options.

"I'm getting phone calls from Canadian radio stations, even at work," Enquist said.  "Basically even going out in public. I've gotten a lot of hate emails. I'm definitely saving all of them for records purposes."

Not since March 1982 has an NHL player made contact with a fan, when Canucks defenseman Doug Halward was suspended seven games for such an altercation.

Rypien is the cousin of former NFL star Mark Rypien.


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