Dustin Pedroia

For other people named Steve Moore, see Steve Moore (disambiguation).

Steve Moore
Born	(1978-09-22) September 22, 1978 Thornhill, ON
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Centre
Played for	Colorado Avalanche
NHL draft	53rd overall, 1998 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	2001–2004

Steve Moore (born September 22, 1978) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre, perhaps best known for his role in a series of controversial incidents with the Vancouver Canucks that ultimately led to the end of his playing career.

Playing career

Moore and his brothers played for Harvard University. His brother Dominic is a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in the second round, being 53rd pick overall. Moore played in 69 games for the Avalanche from 2001 to 2004, scoring five goals and seven assists before being seriously injured by Todd Bertuzzi who at the time played for the Vancouver Canucks.

Due to continued post-concussion syndrome, Colorado opted not to give him a qualifying offer after his rookie contract expired. To date Moore has not returned to professional hockey.

Moore, via his lawyer Tim Danson, filed a civil lawsuit against both Bertuzzi and the Vancouver Canucks in a Colorado court. It was dismissed as the judge felt that British Columbia was the more appropriate location.

The Bertuzzi Retribution Punch

On February 16, 2004, during a Vancouver-Colorado game, Moore injured Canucks team captain Markus Näslund by checking him in the head area while Näslund was reaching for a puck ahead of him with his head down. This was after the whistle, and Moore extended his elbow as seen from the front view replay. No penalty was called on the play, but Näslund suffered a concussion and a bone chip in his elbow as a result of the hit, and missed three games. Moore's hit on Näslund drew much criticism from the Canucks and their fans, but the NHL ruled that the hit was not illegal and did not fine or suspend Moore. Canucks head coach Marc Crawford and general manager Brian Burke publicly criticized the non-call by the referees on the incident. Vancouver players indicated that they would get even with Moore, with left winger Brad May stating that he would put a bounty on Moore's head.

During the next game between the Canucks and Avalanche held in Denver, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL executive vice-president Colin Campbell attended the game, which ended in a tie and saw no major incidents break out.

However, on March 8, 2004, during another rematch between the Avalanche and Canucks, things went differently. In the first period, Moore fought Vancouver player Matt Cooke in a fairly even brawl, and served the 5-minute penalty for fighting. The Avalanche would go on to build up a large lead in a fight-filled game. Late in the third period, Todd Bertuzzi was sent onto the ice. After failing to instigate Moore to fight, Bertuzzi skated after him for a long period before punching Moore in the head from behind and falling upon him. Moore was knocked out, and lay motionless for ten minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. He sustained three fractured neck vertebrae , facial cuts and a severe concussion.

Bertuzzi was immediately suspended by the NHL for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. The suspension also barred him from playing in any international tournaments or leagues during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. Commissioner Gary Bettman reinstated Bertuzzi for the 2005-06 season.

On August 22, 2004, Moore was released from a Denver-area hospital. He wore a neck brace for one year and then started physical therapy for his neck injury and concussion.

Career statistics

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Thornhill Islanders	MetJHL		50	25	27	52	57		18	4	5	9	—
1996–97	Thornhill Islanders	MetJHL		50	34	52	86	52		13	10	11	21	2
1997–98	Harvard University	ECAC		33	10	23	33	46		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Harvard University	ECAC		30	18	13	31	34		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Harvard University	ECAC		27	10	16	26	53		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Harvard University	ECAC		32	7	26	33	43		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Hershey Bears	AHL		68	10	17	27	31		8	0	1	1	6
2001–02	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		8	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Hershey Bears	AHL		58	10	13	23	41		5	0	1	1	4
2002–03	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		4	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Hershey Bears	AHL		13	4	4	8	6		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		57	5	7	12	37		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				69	5	7	12	41		—	—	—	—	—

References

• Victim Impact Statement
• Moore 'disappointed' by Crown's plea bargain
• Bertuzzi reinstated by the NHL
• Video of Incident

See also

• List of NHL players
• Notable families in the NHL
• Violence in ice hockey

External links

• Steve Moore career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Steve Moore biography at Legends of Hockey (archived)

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