Suspension of Flyers’ Boulerice intended to make message stick

VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) — Maybe now Philadelphia will really get the message: The deliberate and dangerous hits that put two Flyers on the suspended list no longer have a spot in a safer NHL.

Philadelphia forward Jesse Boulerice was suspended 25 games by the NHL Friday for striking Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler across the face with his stick, the longest single-season ban in league history.

The suspension was handed down by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell after a hearing in Toronto.

“This was more than a careless and reckless play,” Campbell said. “It was senseless.”

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren anticipated the league’s action.

“Is 25 the worst?” he said. “It’s pretty close to what I expected.”

Campbell said there would be a “whole heap of problems” had Kesler been seriously injured.

“If there was a worse result, maybe there would be more than me looking into it today, and that wouldn’t be good for any of us,” Campbell said.

Boulerice knows exactly what Campbell means. He’s been in serious trouble before for violent conduct.

In 1998, Boulerice was suspended for one year by the Ontario Hockey League for violent stick-swinging. He went to the American Hockey League the following season and was ruled ineligible until mid-November.

Boulerice, who said after the game he acted in a “bad way,” apologized again Friday night.

“I am very apologetic for what I did and I am ready to begin my suspension,” he said. “I knew I was going to pay the consequences for my actions against Ryan Kesler in Vancouver and I respect the decision handed down by Mr. Campbell. During this time I will keep myself mentally and physically prepared for when the suspension is lifted.”