NHL's Sean Avery suspended for 'sloppy seconds' comment on Elisha Cuthbert
Stevie Sewell
Avery suspended indefinitely for comments about ex-girlfriend, Phaneuf
ESPN.com news services
Updated: December 2, 2008, 8:32 PM ET
DALLAS -- The NHL suspended Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery
indefinitely Tuesday for making a crude reference to former
girlfriends while talking with reporters.
Avery's inflammatory comments came following a morning skate in
Calgary, Alberta, where the Stars were to play the Flames on Tuesday
night. He approached a group of reporters, asked if a camera was
present, then said he wanted to say one thing: "I am really happy to
be back in Calgary, I love Canada," he said. "I just want to comment
on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in
love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the
game tonight."
Avery's ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert, is dating Calgary
defenseman Dion Phaneuf and had been romantically linked to Mike
Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Avery also dated model and
actress Rachel Hunter, the girlfriend of Los Angeles Kings center
Jarrett Stoll.
Hours after Avery spoke, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the
punishment, saying Avery made "inappropriate public comments, not
pertaining to the game."
Avery will meet with Bettman before his punishment is settled. That
get-together is likely to happen soon.
"I completely support the league's decision to suspend Sean Avery,"
Stars owner Tom Hicks said in a statement. "Had the league not have
suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not
tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team.
We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so."
Avery is a noted "pest," the kind of player who delights in getting
under the skin of opponents, and whom fans love to hate. During last
season's playoffs, Avery -- then with the New York Rangers -- stood in
front of New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur and blocked his view by
waving his hand and stick in the goalie's face. The next day, the
league put in the so-called "Avery Rule" to prohibit such shenanigans.
Avery got a measure of revenge by scoring three goals in the series
victory. But he lacerated his spleen in the following round against
Pittsburgh, requiring a stay in intensive care and ending his stint
with the Rangers.
Despite his tough-guy image on the ice, the 28-year-old Avery has
cultivated another image in his private life: fashionista. He's
pursued his interest in the fashion world by interning with Vogue
magazine. He's also broken into pop culture through appearances on MTV
and in tabloid gossip columns; he also grabbed a spot on People's
"Sexiest Scars" list for a gash on his lip.
Dallas signed Avery to a $15.5 million, four-year deal in July, hoping
his grittiness would help last season's Western Conference finalists.
Instead, the injury-riddled Stars went into Tuesday night's game with
only 20 points, fewest in the Western Conference and near the bottom
of the NHL.
This is Avery's third team in as many seasons, and fourth of his
career. His contract includes a limited no-trade clause.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.