Vancouver Canucks 30 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 http://www.theprovince.com/touch/story.html?id=9592814 Steve Moore 10 years later: 'I lost my entire career in my rookie year' It has been 10 years since Steve Moore's NHL career ended with an attack by former Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi. The 35-year-old Moore says he still suffers from headaches and low energy, even if he feels better overall and wants to get on with his life. But there has been no closure for the former Colorado Avalanche centre, whose $38-million dollar lawsuit against Bertuzzi and the Canucks is still in the courts after numerous delays. A trial date has been set for Sept. 8. Moore, a rookie on a powerhouse Avalanche team, still remembers that game on March 8, 2004, and the devastating effect it had on his career. "I think about it at times like this," Moore said Friday in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. "When the anniversary comes around, it's hard not to reflect on the impact this has had on my life, which is dramatic. "At the same time I think a lot about how grateful I am that this wasn't worse. Every time I watch it I have the same reaction other people have, which is shock and disgust. It's just a little stronger when it's yourself you're looking at and when you're aware of everything that happened in the three weeks leading up to it — the threats and all those things." It all started on Feb. 16, 2004, when Moore flattened Canucks captain Markus Naslund with an open ice hit that put Vancouver's scoring star out with a concussion but was deemed legal by the NHL. Major retaliation was expected. Vancouver's Brad May was quoted as saying there was a "bounty" on Moore's head. But when the teams next met on March 3, with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in the house, there were no incidents. The fireworks came in their March 8 game, a 9-2 Colorado win. Moore squared off against Matt Cooke in the first period, a fight that was considered a draw. It appeared that was the end of if. But things got nasty in the third frame. Moore was challenged again. He turned away. Bertuzzi skated up behind him, tugging on his jersey, then punching him from behind and falling on top of him as other players piled in. Moore lay motionless on the ice in a pool of blood before being stretchered off and taken to hospital. The diagnosis was a concussion and three fractured vertebrae. Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs, which cost him about $502,000, and he didn't play during the 2004-05 lockout season. But he was reinstated for the 2005-06 campaign and has since continued his career, most recently with Detroit. He also pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced in 2006 to a year's probation and 80 hours of community service. There was also Bertuzzi's tearful apology on television. But nothing could fully heal Moore's wounds. After five years visiting the best specialists he could find, he was told he had made a remarkable recovery but none would give him clearance to play hockey again. His career was over. "That was a very difficult time for me," he said. "It took a heck of a lot longer than I expected, but I was expecting to go back and I never thought about anything other than returning to play." He has since started the Steve Moore Foundation to help people with head and neck injuries. "Over the last few years, with the number of concussion injuries, especially with high-profile players, the public has been educated in a major way, but we still have a long way to go not just in making people aware of this, but in avoiding them and treating them," he said. While Moore's foundation keeps him busy, he is also still dealing with the lawsuit, which could set a standard for determining responsibility for on-ice behaviour and injuries. Moore said the suit was not so much about the money as being compensated for the loss of his dreams. When Moore was injured, he was in his first full NHL season. He had five goals and seven assists in 57 games, but injuries had seen him move up from the fourth line to regular duty with stars like Joe Sakic and Paul Kariya. "I lost my entire career in my rookie year," he said. "I think any player put in that situation would do the same thing. "I can't recover anything else. I can't recover my career, the experience of living out my dream from the time I was two and half years old of playing in the NHL." He said the injury cost him all the good things about being an NHL player: rewarding himself and his family for the hours they put in to get him there, the chance to skate in the playoffs and maybe even win a Stanley Cup, or even the chance to be an inspiration to youngsters hoping to be in the league one day. "Everything I watched my peers go through the last 10 years," he said. "I've watched the careers they've had and I can't get any of that back." Bertuzzi has alleged the Canucks' then-coach Marc Crawford urged his players to make Moore "pay the price," while Crawford has claimed Bertuzzi disobeyed instructions to get off the ice before Moore was attacked. Asked if he has forgiven Bertuzzi, Moore spoke instead of being frustrated at the repeated delays in the trial and the resistance put up by the opposing side in the lawsuit. "I'm a very forgiving person," said Moore, who lives in Toronto with his wife and two small children. "Everyone saw what happened on March 8, 2004, but what they haven't seen in what's gone on since then. "To me, it's just been a continuation of what happened, just off ice and away from the cameras. It's not a situation that happened 10 years ago and it's over and everything's been resolved and moved on. "There's nobody that would like to move on more than me. Every day I try to move on, and I have moved on in other areas of my life, but this isn't over." http://youtu.be/kFVvLQU_cMo http://youtu.be/zSWRxppX81E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam13371337 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 of course he hasn't moved on... still waiting on his payday (moneygrab). this piece of garage headhunter nobody will get 0 sympathy from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baka Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 of course he hasn't moved on... still waiting on his payday (moneygrab). this piece of garage headhunter nobody will get 0 sympathy from me. Hell yeah anyone who wants big money is a scumbag no matter what the situation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoman13 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 "Moore said the suit was not so much about the money as being compensated for the loss of his dreams." Interesting..... What exactly is the difference? I must be missing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Naslund could sue his ass for lost potential wages and his dream of performing better in his career too if he wasn't just so darn classy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam13371337 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Hell yeah anyone who wants big money is a scumbag no matter what the situation! situation I remember was a worthless AHLer punk trying to make a name for himself by headhunting one of the greatest players in the NHL. and then suing everyone including their mothers by demanding an exhorbitant amount of money. barring circumstance, his cheapshot on naslund could have ended his career. doubt many people will shed tears for cooke if someone ended his career. and cooke probably wasn't as dirty as this guy for the most part of his career. don't dish It If you cant take it comes to mind. and certainly don't demand absurd amounts of money afterwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyville88 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 I wonder if Bertuzzi continues to play in the NHL because he wants to or because he needs the money to pay all his legal fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connauton Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 "Moore sat there in a pool of blood" - they're making it sound like he almost bled to death Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolwut? Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 of course he hasn't moved on... still waiting on his payday (moneygrab). this piece of garage headhunter nobody will get 0 sympathy from me. What a fool you are to say this.. Grow up. Let's see how like it when nobody gives any sympathy to you after you get sucker punched and have your head driven into the ice. I don't think Moore is innocent by any means, but you sound stupid and you should be embarrassed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baka Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 situation I remember was a worthless AHLer punk trying to make a name for himself by headhunting one of the greatest players in the NHL. and then suing everyone including their mothers by demanding an exhorbitant amount of money. barring circumstance, his cheapshot on naslund could have ended his career. doubt many people will shed tears for cooke if someone ended his career. and cooke probably wasn't as dirty as this guy for the most part of his career. don't dish It If you cant take it comes to mind. and certainly don't demand absurd amounts of money afterwards I agree he deserved what he got. #worsthumanever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam13371337 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 "Moore sat there in a pool of blood" - they're making it sound like he almost bled to death drama, tears and exaggeration only drive up his cash grab as far as hes concerned. bling bling bling, let the cash register ring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam13371337 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 What a fool you are to say this.. Grow up. Let's see how like it when nobody gives any sympathy to you after you get sucker punched and have your head driven into the ice. I don't think Moore is innocent by any means, but you sound stupid and you should be embarrassed if I tried to separate someone from their head, And someone punched me in return. Id take it as karma. the only difference between moore and naslun (with the exception of actual hockey talent) was circumstance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheels22 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 It must be rough knowing that right now he could be bouncing around the minor leagues... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peaches5 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 "Moore said the suit was not so much about the money as being compensated for the loss of his dreams." Interesting..... What exactly is the difference? I must be missing something. If thats the case then there is no way he wins. Its like if I get hit by a car I can then sue person that hit me for ruining my potential dreams, get real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolwut? Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 if I tried to separate someone from their head, And someone punched me in return. Id take it as karma. the only difference between moore and naslun (with the exception of actual hockey talent) was circumstance Say and justify it however you wish, from the comments you've said in this thread you've made yourself look apathetic and cold hearted.. As well as immature. Trying to justify physically injuring ANYone makes you look like a complete tool and you should be ashamed of yourself.. Full stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam13371337 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Say and justify it however you wish, from the comments you've said in this thread you've made yourself look apathetic and cold hearted.. As well as immature. Trying to justify physically injuring ANYone makes you look like a complete tool and you should be ashamed of yourself.. Full stop. I really could care less what you think of me, neither are you going to convince me to "be ashamed of myself" The fact that you don't argue my rationale for thinking the way I do, but attack my character instead speaks volumes about you. go cry for moore as much as you want, good for you. I couldn't care less and will be last time I respond to you~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanucklehead10 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 @sam13371337 I agree that Moore's hit that game infuriated me but honestly...Karma? You don't even know how much this guy is still suffering compared to Nazzy's 3 games. There have been much more hits worse than this on players and many cases in which the "bad guys" get away cleanly. There was something brewing for sure but, definitely shouldn't have been to this audacity. This incident just reminds us how Neanderthal the sport of hockey was (and still is in some cases) and leaves a black mark on the League. Back when retribution was "violently assaulting" a player to what retribution should be in hockey through winning games. You have some pretty harsh words for a guy who didn't have that same experience as Moore and we really don't need Neanderthals like you still clinging to that "karma" nonsense. Grow up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bure fan Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Steve Moore was going to be the next Gretzky, nice going Bertuzzi... Haha , get out of here Steve Moore. You were nothing but a slimy rat that targeted star players and got what was coming to you. You deserve jack all son. Nuf nuf hold tha stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xereau Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Steve Moore was a one time call up. He was never going to be an NHL'er. Loser lawyers have had their claws in this situation FAR too long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bure fan Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Steve Moore was going to be the next Gretzky, nice going Bertuzzi... Haha , get out of here Steve Moore. You were nothing but a slimy rat that targeted star players and got what was coming to you. You deserve jack all son. Nuf nuf hold tha stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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