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Boulerice suspended for 25 games

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Martin Biron, left, stands near the goal as the Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler lies on the ice after getting hit by the Flyers' Jesse Boulerice in the third period of their NHL game in Vancouver on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Philadelphia forward Jesse Boulerice was suspended 25 games by the NHL on Friday for cross-checking Vancouver's Ryan Kesler across the face, matching the largest suspension in league history.

"I expected the worst," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "Is 25 the worst? It's pretty close to what I expected."

Holmgren announced the suspension -- handed down by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell after Friday's hearing in Toronto -- at the Flyers practice facility.

This is not the first time that Boulerice has been suspended for violent conduct. In 1998, he was suspended for one year by the Ontario Hockey League after a violent stick-swinging incident -- but moved to the AHL the following season and was ruled ineligible only until mid-November.

Boulerice is the second Flyer to be hit with long suspension in three weeks after rookie Steve Downie was suspended 20 games for a hit against Ottawa.

Islanders forward Chris Simon was suspended for 25 games in March for his two-handed stick attack to the face of Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers.

"I think we're in agreement that there's no place in the game for this anymore," Holmgren said. "I do think it was an isolated incident. Jesse lost his composure, lost his cool. It's something that's not the right thing to do, at any time."

Boulerice's vicious hit came late in Philadelphia's 8-2 win over Vancouver on Wednesday. After some pushing and shoving, Boulerice caught an unsuspecting Kesler across the face with his stick, leaving the Canucks forward lying motionless on the ice.

He eventually got up and skated to the bench on his own.

"We're by no means condoning what happened," Flyers coach John Stevens said after practice. "He's going to have to stand up and pay the price."

Downie was suspended 20 games by the NHL last month for leaving his feet to deliver a deliberate and dangerous hit to the head of Ottawa's Dean McAmmond. Holmgren said Downie has served two games of the suspension.

The Flyers, once known as the Broad Street Bullies, have quickly established an unwanted identity as a team full of out-of-control goons.

"It's almost implied that's the direction we're going when it couldn't be further from the truth," Stevens said.

Boulerice received a match penalty for intent to injure and Kesler called for a 20-game suspension. The 23-year-old center practiced on Thursday and expected to play on Friday when the Canucks faced the Oilers in Edmonton. The swelling in Kesler's right lip and jaw had subsided, but he still had some red marks on his face.

Boulerice said after the game he was sorry for the hit.

"I reacted in a bad way, the wrong way," he said.

In the OHL incident, Boulerice was charged with assault to do great bodily harm less than murder.

He pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of aggravated assault.

"Whatever happened in Jesse's head triggered something," Flyers forward Mike Knuble said of the latest suspension. "For the most part, players don't want to see players going after each other with sticks in the face. That's not the game we're trying to promote."

The Flyers (2-1) play their home opener against the New York Islanders today.
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