Connie Felde writes about an article in Sports Illustrated:
 
>      In the December 6 issue, there is an extended story "A
> Cruel Blow".  It is the story of an Italian hockey player,
> Jim Boni, whom slashed another player, Miran Schrott, and
> killed him.  Now Boni faces manslaughter charges.  I will
> not go into details as it is a fairly long article, however
> it raises some very interesting topics.  I think any hockey
> fan will be outraged by the whole situation.
 
Another person asked for details about this story.  Although it
is not about college hockey, per se, it is an issue which has a
potential impact on all levels of hockey (and other, lesser,
sports for that matter).  First, the story as I read it:
 
In a game in Jan. 1991, Boni moved toward the crease of the
opposing team.  Schrott, a defenseman, tried to move him out of
the goal area and, in the jostling, hit Boni (possibly
accidentally, possibly not, the story wasn't clear) in the face.
In retaliation, Boni dealt Schrott a sharp blow to the chest with
the heel of the stick (2:00, slashing).  According to the article,
the blow was definitely a slash, but was not any more vicious than,
say, Dale Hunter on an average night (that was uncalled for, and
before I am flamed for it, I apologize).  At any rate, the point
is that the blow was nothing extraordinarily unusual in the normal
play of a physical game.  Apparently, although doctors are not
really sure, the blow compressed Schrott's chest wall, shocked his
heart, and started a cardiac arrythmia (sp?).  It took about 5 min
before CPR was started and more than 15 min before Schrott was taken
to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
 
In the two years since the incident (it can't really be called an
accident, yet it clearly was not premeditated homicide), Boni has
faced an array of suspensions from the Italian Hockey League and
civil and criminal charges.  He has settled out-of-court with
Schrott's family for $183,000.  He is currently going to trial on
the charge of involuntary manslaughter.  If convicted, he faces a
mandatory sentence of 10 - 18 years in prison.
 
Those are the facts.  Now for my $0.02.  I would like to share the
outrage Connie Felde feels about this incident (I assume that the
outrage is over the potential threat of prison for Boni), but I
can't.  In truth, I am torn.  Boni broke the rules.  The reason that
there is a slashing penalty is that a stick is a really dangerous
weapon.  Boni knew this.  Players who slash are sent to a little
jail off the ice called the penalty box for this very reason.  Boni
broke the rules, a fellow player died, and he deserves to pay a
price.
 
On the other hand, players who slash are not *normally* charged with
assault.  In addition, referees inevitably do not call most slashing
penalties.  Perhaps if they did we could see some better hockey, but
that's another topic.  In addition, hockey is an inherently
dangerous sport.  The article mentioned two other players who have
died in the past few years from being hit in the heart with a puck
(obviously accidentally).  Although hockey players probably do not
think about it too often, I am sure they all (including Schrott and
Boni) realize how dangerous it can be.
 
All those rationales do not excuse Boni.  However, I think that
10-18 years in jail may be a bit of a stiff penalty for this
situation.  Mostly, I feel that hockey in general, and college
hockey in particular (because that is the only hockey I really care
about), should be better prepared for this type of incident in the
future.  Inevitably, no matter how clean the game becomes and no
matter what sort of protection the players use, another player will
be hurt or killed from an intentional act.  There *MUST BE* a
procedure in place to help the victim (or his/her family) and
prevent the sort of two year long legal bulls**t (apologies to all
lawyers out there - please don't sue me) that has basically ruined
Boni's life.  In particular, I feel there is no place for civil
suits in a case such as this.  Boni committed a crime, but he is
not a criminal; he deserves a swift and just punishment from a
criminal court which will allow him to proceed with his life as
best he can when it is over.
 
Anyway, there's the story.  I'd be interested in hearing if there
are any sort of procedures in college hockey to cope with a
difficult situation like this.
 
Brian Frankie CU '91
Go Big Red!