'Hall'abaloo costs Torts 15 days

Photo: The Canadian Press

Referees get in the way of Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella as he screams at the Calgary Flames bench during first period NHL hockey action at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, on Jan. 18, 2014. (Jonathan/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella has been suspended for 15 days, without pay, for his actions during the first intermission of the NHL Game in Vancouver on Saturday, Jan. 18.

"Mr. Tortorella's actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the League," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell.

"Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game."

Mr. Tortorella's suspension is effective retroactive to January 19 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 2.

He will miss six games. He is not permitted to have any interaction with his club prior to, during or after games.

A majority of Castanet readers who took part in our weekend poll are not in agreement with the NHL.

Of the 1,696 people who took our poll, 42.5 per cent thought Tortarella should have been suspended while 57.5 per cent thought there should either be no suspension or just a fine.

At the same time, the NHL also fined Calgary coach Bob Hartley $25,000 for for conduct prejudicial to or against the welfare of the league.

"We are holding Mr. Hartley responsible for the actions of Flames' right wing Kevin Westgarth, who took the game's opening face-off and attempted to instigate a premeditated fight with an unwilling opponent -- the Canucks' Kevin Bieksa," said Campbell.