Senators Forward Penalized for Diving
The National Hockey League has taken disciplinary action against Ottawa Senators winger Nick Cousins for what it deems to be an act of embellishment. The league's department of hockey operations announced that Cousins has been fined the sum of $2,000 US for his actions.
A Pattern of Behavior Leads to Fine
This was not the first time Cousins had been flagged by the league for this type of infraction. According to an official NHL statement, the forward was initially issued a warning following an incident on October 25 in a game against the Washington Capitals. The fine was triggered because this was his second citation for diving, demonstrating a pattern of behavior.
The specific incident that resulted in the financial penalty occurred at 8:22 of the first period during the Senators' game against the Utah Mammoth on November 9. On that play, Utah forward JJ Peterka was assessed a minor penalty for interference. The league determined that Cousins' reaction to the play was an exaggeration, warranting the subsequent fine.
Context and Player Reputation
Nick Cousins is known as a player who often tries to get under the opposition's skin and draw penalties. While attempting to gain a competitive edge for his team is part of the game, the NHL's embellishment rules are designed to maintain the sport's integrity by penalizing players who simulate or exaggerate infractions. This fine serves as a concrete consequence for crossing that line a second time.
The NHL's policy operates on a escalating scale, where repeated offenses can lead to increasingly severe punishments, making this a noteworthy event for both the player and the team.
