from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

"I've been talking about goons playing in our league for years now and I'm on record when Spezza got hurt and I said that one day it's going to be somebody else's superstar and sure enough within 60 days Sidney Crosby got taken out (in the Winter Classic by Washington's David Steckel).

"I'm just hoping that this is something that is looked at for what it is and something positive comes out of what is really a tragedy for us."

Melnyk wondered why Cooke -- who has been suspended five times -- is allowed to play in the league. All this incident did was reinforce Melnyk's thinking.

"This guy should be kicked ... He doesn't belong in the league. He belongs somewhere where the goons play," said an emotional Melnyk. "Get him in the Central league. He can be a $60,000-a-year guy playing pick-up hockey there.

"The guy does not deserve ... He's got one purpose. I remember when this happened with Spezza. I said, 'If these are the rules, I just want to know.' We'll play with the same rules. Make sure you have one or two goons whose job is to do this either intentionally or unintentionally.

"I'm OK with it, just tell me I'm OK with it. I play by the rules. I'm just shocked an organization would do this."

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