Late last season, Boston Bruin defenseman and former Penguin, Marty McSorley, deliberately landed a vicious, two-handed blow to the side of Donald Brashear's head.  Brashear, a Vancouver Canuck, fell to the ice and as trainers, doctors, and other players rushed to his aid, he lay on the ice twitching from head to toe.  It was a horrible sight.

Even if you weren't watching the game, because of instant replay, sports fan were subjected to seeing the hit over and over again for days. Donald Brashear suffered the most serious type of concussion.  More than a week later, he was still in a fog and couldn't even comment on the incident.

Because this occurred in Canada, the police got involved filing assault charges on McSorley, setting off a debate in the hockey world.  One opinion is that what happens on the ice should be policed by the League.  The other view is that had this same thing happened on the street, the "criminal" would be arrested.

In September, Marty McSorley will go on trial in Vancouver.  If he is found innocent of assault, he will then have to convince NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that he should be allowed to resume his career.  If he is not permitted to play, he is close to the end of his hockey life anyway.  His main claim to fame was serving as Wayne Gretzky's "enforcer" on the Edmonton Oilers.  He looked out for Number 99 on the ice -- if a player went after Gretzky, he answered to McSorley.  Gretzky has stood by McSorley during all of this.  Since the those days with the Oilers, McSorley has moved from team to team, literally fighting to stay.

McSorley played for the Pens from 1983 through 1985 racking up over 200 penalty minutes over the two seasons.  He returned to Pittsburgh in the 1993-94 season, but was fairly ineffective and was traded to the Los Angeles Kings before the end of the year.

Donald Brashear has been in the league only seven years.  He hasn't reached his peak yet -- hopefully he will still have a chance to do that.  His hockey-playing days could be over.  In addition, he could have long-lasting affects from the injury.   Brashear has a considerable amount to lose because of what happened on the ice that night. Marty McSorley has expressed regret, apologized for what he did, said he didn't mean to do it, it was the heat of the moment in what had been a chippy game.  But he made another comment that left a bad taste in people's mouths.  He said, "Nobody realizes how much I've lost because of what happened."  What has he lost?   He's not injured, he's not in his prime.  But has he lost the respect of hockey fans and players?  Definitely.