Brooks Suspended Extra Game

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Herb Brooks was suspended Tuesday by the NHL for an additional game for shoving and verbally attacking a Colorado Avalanche announcer who suggested a Penguins player embellishes injuries.

Brooks, who returned to the NHL as a coach last month, was given the extra game's suspension during a disciplinary hearing in New York. Brooks was suspended for Saturday's 4-2 loss to Nashville and also will miss Wednesday's game against St. Louis.

Brooks, best known for coaching the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic hockey team, became angry after confronting Avalanche announcer John Kelly in a hallway following Pittsburgh's 4-3 loss Thursday in Denver.

Shortly after Pittsburgh forward Matthew Barnaby suffered a concussion while being cross-checked in the back of the neck by Colorado's Alexei Gusarov, Kelly suggested that Barnaby is known for exaggerating injuries. Brooks was told of the remark, and began yelling at Kelly when he spotted him after the game.

Brooks initially cursed at Kelly as he questioned him about the call, then shoved the announcer and said, "I'll kick your butt all over the place, all right?" before an NHL security officer separated them.

Brooks screamed repeatedly at Kelly, "Was that your call? Was that your call?" and protested to him that Gusarov "almost tore his (Barnaby's) head off, and then you said, `He has a tendency to embellish."'

Brooks initially said he didn't regret the incident because he was standing up for a player who was wronged, but has since softened his stance.

"The confrontation Mr. Brooks initiated was inappropriate conduct for a head coach in this league," NHL executive vice president Colin Campbell said. "Mr. Brooks has acknowledged this and has expressed regrets the incident occurred. While that was taken into the account, such contact between any NHL personnel and members of the media is not acceptable."

Before the hearing, Brooks said he hoped the league would take into consideration the incident was the first of its kind in his six seasons as an NHL coach.

Brooks' two-game suspension matches the suspension Gusarov drew for cross-checking Barnaby. The play did not result in a penalty.

"You stand up for your players when they are busting their tails," Brooks said after the game. "I'm not just going to let them be hung out to dry. I'll battle for them."

Barnaby sat out the Nashville game with the concussion, then visited a doctor Monday and was cleared to play.

Eddie Johnston, a two-time former Penguins coach who returned to the coaching staff after Kvin Constantine was fired last month, was behind the bench Saturday and will be again Wednesday.

Brooks isn't allowed to be in the arena or have telephone contact with any Penguins staff member during the game. He can return to the bench Saturday at Montreal.

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