The look on Alexander Semin’s face as Dan Boyle stood over him near the end of last night’s Olympic match between Russia and Canada said it all. Semin did not expect retaliation for his late hit on Boyle seconds earlier. And when that retaliation came by way of a slew-foot, he had no idea what to do next.
The incident began with just under three minutes left in Canada’s 7-3 blowout over Russia in the Tournament Quarter-Finals. As Boyle played the puck around the boards behind his own net, Semin stepped up and drove him hard into the boards with an aggressive shoulder check.
Boyle got up, chased after Semin, and then hauled him down from behind, taking his skates out from under him. After a scrum, both players received penalties, and some believe Boyle might face further discipline by way of suspension.
By hockey standards, Semin’s hit was clean, and Boyle admitted that in a post-game interview. What made the hit angering to Boyle and many Canadian spectators was the fact that it was completely unnecessary and potentially danger ...
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Article written by Paul McCoun