The Canes' Tim Gleason said he wasn't looking for a fight. But when a fight came looking for him ...
"I stand up for myself," the defenseman said today. "I don't hit people who I know don't fight. I have zero interest in people who don't fight."
That would be people like forward Nikolai Kulemin of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But at the end of the first period last night at the RBC Center, there was a scrum in front of the Canes bench. During it, Kulemin threw a jab at Gleason.
"I could have dropped my gloves there, but I didn't," Gleason said.
Gleason took a few more jabs, then had had enough. He threw a punch of his own, leaving Kulemin bloodied. Gleason was given a fighting major and game misconduct; Kulemin was done for the night as the Canes won 6-4.
"I took one and I didn't (drop the gloves)," Gleason said. "Then I took two and I thought, 'Well, if you're going to keep punching me in the face, I don't know what else to do.' I have to protect myself. ... It's almost like a boxer getting hit in the face.
"I don't wish anything like that upon anybody. In a way I feel bad because of what happened. I'm getting his phone number today and will give him a call. And hopefully he answers. If not I'll leave a message. That's all I can do."
After the ejection, Gleason returned to the locker room to lift weights and watch the game on TV. He said he did make a quick call to his father.
"I called the ol' Pops," he said. "He was probably more sour than I was. He was yelling and screaming. If he was the head coach he would have been kicked out for 10 games probably."
Gleason said he watched the replay about 30 times last night, staying up until 2:30 a.m. He was wearing a small bandage over the knuckle of his right forefinger today. which he said was evidence of the fight.
"I feel bad," he said. "I'm not a type of player like that, I don't care what anybody says. If they have a problem, well, I'm here."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Blah, blah, blah...
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 22:57 — CanarseSome here are just looking for a reason to cry. Yes, he probably shouldn't have been booted, but the refs probably didn't see the jabs and just saw that Gleason clocked a guy with gloves on. It didn't make a huge difference in the game so let it go.
The guys covering the game for the Leafs were 2-1 in favor of how Gleason handled the situation and the other guy was just playing devil's advocate if you ask me. In fact, the Canadian commentators taunted the NHL replay room for blowing the call on the goal after taking 8 minutes. They said "It seems Toronto couldn't confirm the round black thingie over the goal line was the puck."
blah, blah, blah
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 23:42 — louis12580It's not so much the call, it's the way the referees used the intermission to use video to review the play. Had they really paid attention, they would have seen Kulemin throw several punches with his gloves on and Gleason finally having enough, drop his gloves, and bloody Kulenim. How in the world that was a game misconduct is beyond any imagination. A 5 minute major, yes. A game misconduct, no.
Yet again the NHL officials
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 12:10 — mokimanoYet again the NHL officials with another screw up, and yet again no accountability for their officials. It's such a double standard that the league makes the player's accountable at every turn yet the officials get a free pass time and time again. It's a joke, or like Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull have called it in the past..."a garage league" when it comes to the officials. You want a real ref...Bill McCreary, sadly, after that, the talent drops off significantly. No way does Gleason deserve anything other than a 5 minute major at best, no way no how is a game misconduct warranted in that situation, ever.
Gleason in the right!
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 10:21 — Caniac5Watching the game, Gleason took two punches to the face and no one was stopping the guy. As Gleason said, the first one...ok! The second...he must want some of me! Gleason was totally right in punching Kulemin's lights out! So what if he dropped the gloves? 5-minute fighting penalty MAX! Game Misconduct?...BAD CALL!
And if the ref's really did review the moment during the break and then made the call, the league needs to fine them! That is totally wrong!! They cannot review a penalty and then make a call. FINE THEM!!!
The Caniac Nation is behind you Timmy boy!
Why the unequal penalties
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 00:15 — girlshockeydadWhy did Tim get his penalties when he only responded to Kulemin after getting punched & shoved? Why didn't Kulemin receive an instigator penalty since he started it after the period ended? It seems unfair to me that Gleason received more of a penalty than Kulemin. They both should have received equal penalties. The ref's blew this call badly!!
more
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 23:40 — louis12580news about the call last night. Instead of making the call right away, it's reported that the officials went and looked at the video during the intermission. An absolute no-no and wrong beyond description. If this is true, the league should fine and suspend both referees. Completely and totally unacceptable on their part. Of course, some in the Toronto media are calling for a suspension. Couple that with TSN's asking whether or not Gleason broke the "code." Their way of trying to goad the league into suspending Tim
The source?
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 23:55 — sftwareguyFirst- where did you get that info about the Refs?? And if they actually did and still expelled him, they ought to be suspended on that.
Second- the league won't do anything to Gleason. Go to HockeyFights.com or FanNation and read the comments. 99-1 in favor of Tim. Most of these guys commenting are hard core hockey fans and they saw it for what it was.
The source?
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 09:05 — louis12580was none other than Chuck Kaiton. He stated that yesterday when on the radio and just repeated it again. I agree that the league shouldn't do anything to Gleason, but this is the NHL.
Hockey Officiating
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 19:03 — NCBuff_CaniacYet again we had a case of results based officiating. Kulemin got his clock cleaned and nose bloodied so it must have been a major penalty. Look what happened to him! Did I actually see Gleason commit an act worthy of a game misconduct? NO, but look what happened to Kulemin!
Video reviews on all major penalties
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 21:57 — sftwareguyIt will cost almost nothing in added time to a game. DO IT !!
All i know is
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 16:24 — esteban1949Rosie did a good "ragdoll" imitation even though he had no intention of being one and yes Rosie needs to learn "some moves" but i felt before he went down he did get a lick or 2 in there..and for the chump who was stupid enough to mess with Gleasn,he now knows and understands as well as ALL of the Leafs do...if you're gonna mess with Gleason you will pay for it! Period...and if i was Tim,i wouldn't bother to call..why ? the Intimidation factor is good ...now at the end of the season...I'd send him and email via the team and try and make nice...but not until the entire 2010/2011 season is over...but that's just me...
If It Ain't Hockey,It Ain't Nothing!! THe new Checkers 3rd Jersey Rocks !!
I don't care if Kulemin kept
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 15:34 — caneshockeyfanI don't care if Kulemin kept his gloves on or not. He was throwing punches at a guy who is known to drop the gloves; he should've been ready to go. Besides, being punched in the face with a gloved hand sucks and it hurts. Hockey gloves are not boxing gloves. They are not designed to lessen the impact of a punch. Gleason is going above and beyond the call of duty by reaching out to him.
On another subject
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 14:44 — sftwareguyHow about LaRose's "fight". Chad better take lessons or continue just being a pest out there. You looked like a twirling top.
Canadian broadcast and Hockyfights.com in Gleason's corner
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 14:42 — sftwareguyReplay supports Gleason. If you live by the sword, you die by the sword.
You can feel sorry for the guy, Tim.. but don't feel that sorry.
my surprise
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 14:30 — louis12580about it all was that Colby "Elbows" Armstrong didn't try to run anyone, especially Skinner. I do feel that in the game there the 3rd. it will be Colton Orr who gets into it with Tim. Second bout on the card will have Bodie against a yet to be announced Leaf. Money should be on Armstrong, but he's a coward.
MacArthur seems to have one
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 14:03 — dustinlammersSo being that he can call out Tim in the Canadian media I expect old Clark to step up and back up his words on Feb 3rd. We all know what kind of player Tim is and that's why he wears an 'A' for us.
MacArthur seems to have one
Tue, 01/25/2011 - 14:03 — dustinlammersSo being that he can call out Tim in the Canadian media I expect old Clark to step up and back up his words on Feb 3rd. We all know what kind of player Tim is and that's why he wears an 'A' for us.