Former NHL Defenseman Facing Major Discipline After Intentionally Charging Opposing Goaltender
Ben Harpur of the Hartford Wolf Pack is a tough player, but recently he simply snapped and charged the opposing goaltender, and now he faces major discipline.
The notion of revenge and policing plays on the ice in hockey is a long withstanding ideal, and while it can be great for the game if utilized well, sometimes players just take it way too far.
That was on full display during a recent AHL matchup between the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Rochester Americans, as defenseman Ben Harpur shockingly charged the goaltender, making no secret of his motives to go after Felix Sandstrom in net.
Unsurprisingly, Harpur was given a five-minute major and a match penalty, but that had people asking the question, why would he go after a goaltender like this?
Thankfully, the answer was given in the replies to this video, with one fan revealing that Sandstrom accidentally tripped Harpur as he slid across to make a save on a potential shot from the talented veteran.
Upon further review, it's clearly not an intentional move from Sandstrom in net that infuriated Harpur, with the 29-year old's move being absolutely amateur and unnecessary, with the potential to do damage to the 27-year old goaltender.
Harpur was a fourth round draft pick way back in the 2013 NHL Draft, and while he has played 198 games at the top level, it's potentially bone headed mistakes like this that have prevented him from a permanent spot at that level.
Given the match penalty and the intention behind the move, it's safe to say that he will be awaiting a suspension from the AHL, and given similar plays have resulted in suspensions, it would not be a shock to see him get at least three games.
