30 Dirty Players in 30 Days. The Tampa Bay Lightning

Posted Thursday, August 27. 2009 by Warren Baker
Filed under 30 Dirty Players in 30 Days, Downie, Steve, Tampa Bay Lightning

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NHL.com has their 30-in-30 schedule posted. You can find their article on the Tampa Bay Lightning as well as previous articles here.To be considered for the 30 Dirty Players feature, players are usually required to have played in the league for many years because it takes many seasons to establish yourself as a truly dirty player.

Steve Downie of the Tampa Bay Lightning is the exception to the rule.

Downie recieved the 5th longest suspension in league history before even playing a game in the NHL. He was given the suspension for a cheap hit on the Ottawa Senators Dean McCammond during a 2007 preseason game.

What is even more amazing is that there was argument around the league that Downie should be considered a repeat offender because of his dirty play in the Juniors.

Downie was suspended for five games early in the 2005–06 OHL season for on-ice altercations with a teammate during practice. Downie blindly cross-checked and then fought teammate Akim Aliu during practice on September 28, knocking out three of Aliu's teeth. The incident stemmed from 16-year-old Aliu's refusal to take part in a hazing incident, which involved rookies being forced to stand naked in a cramped bus bathroom. The team suspended Downie for five games and Aliu for one, and Downie was told to undergo professional counseling.

I assume he went to the counseling. I'm also assuming he listened to his ipod for most of the sessions. Since he has entered the league, Downie has shown all the promise of his dirty predecessors. After serving his 20 game suspension, Downie threw this suckerpunch on Jason Blake of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Apparantly, Blake had been critical of his hit on McCammond and he wanted to settle it man-to-man.

Well, at least man-to-unsuspecting man.

In his defense, fellow 30 Dirty Players alumni Bobby Clarke thought it was the right thing to do.

At the end of the 2008/09 season, Downie was sent down to the AHL in order to "develop as a player". He was promply suspended for 20 games for the physical abuse of an on-ice official.

If he ever plays in the NHL again, Downie will no doubt become one of the games greatest dirty player. Regardless of what he does in his future, he will always have a spot on my 30 Dirty Players in 30 days feature.

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