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!