NHL Suspends Canucks Coach Tortorella

The NHL has suspended Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella for 15 days without pay for his part in the  brawl filled game with Calgary over the weekend. The suspension means he'll miss 6 games.

The melee started when Flames coach Bob Hartley sent his fourth line out to start the game. Tortorella responded by sending his fourth line/fight line out to start the game. The referee dropped the puck to start the game and five separate fights broke out on the ice.

Tortorella was suspended for trying to get into the Calgary locker room in between periods. The league says "his actions were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the league."

Tortorella played his college hockey at UMaine back in the 1970's. He coached Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup championship. He coached the NY Rangers and was fired after losing to the Boston Bruins in the playoffs last spring and was then hired by Vancouver.

Calgary coach Bob Hartley was fined $25,000.