Jeremy Roenick has not been content to let slide a one-game suspension that cost him $91,463. The Flyers center was punished after throwing a water bottle in the direction of referee Blaine Angus near the end of Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Sabres.
He also received two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct and a gross misconduct after questioning Angus, who missed Rory Fitzpatrick's high stick that left Roenick's mouth bloody.
"Ninety-one thousand for throwing a water bottle is pretty excessive, don't you think?" Roenick said. "It's like fining (commissioner) Gary Bettman $91,000 for throwing all those lies about the bargaining agreement coming up."
As for Angus, Roenick said, "I'm held accountable for what I did. I got a suspension and a fine. What did Blaine Angus get? They'll probably call him up and say, "Don't do that again."'
Bettman, in Tampa on Thursday, said a call was missed but said Roenick's bloody mouth was not enough evidence to make a call if the infraction wasn't seen. "They are told not to guess," Bettman said of the officials. "If they don't see it, they're not supposed to make a call."
Bettman said officials face consequences: "If somebody misses calls on a regular basis, we remedy that. Officials are held accountable. Officials are sometimes sent down (to the minors). Officials are sometimes fined."
But that doesn't excuse Roenick's behavior, Bettman said.
"I think Jeremy is great for the game," he said. "I think he's a great personality and is a great player. But what he did crossed the line, and that's why he's held accountable."
His big chance
George Bowman is a Detroit-area golf pro. But he also is a part-time goalie on the Red Wings alumni team. So with Curtis Joseph excused to visit family in Toronto and Dominik Hasek out with a groin injury, Bowman got the call during a recent practice.
Bowman, 40, the grandson of former Wings defenseman Ralph Bowman, played some goal at Western Michigan and is friends with Wings assistant Joe Kocur.
"This is something I'll never forget," Bowman said.
"They were coming at me pretty good. I'd like to think it's because I'm a golf pro. We're easy targets."
Five questions with Rangers captain Mark Messier:
Q: Will there be a lockout next season?
A: I feel there will be hockey next year. I think when the smoke clears, both sides will figure out a way to get a deal done and save the season.
Q: Would you play outside the NHL if there were no season?
A: I wouldn't. Everybody has to do what they think is best, but for myself, I wouldn't consider other alternatives.
Q: Any decisions about next season?
A: No, and it's good for me to do it that way. It's allowed me to concentrate on the season at hand, not get wrapped up in thinking about my future.
Q: Easier to come back if the Rangers have success?
A: I don't think it would be a determining factor in my decision because, ultimately, you want to be part of turning things around and being part of the solution.
Q: Brett Hull said he is one of the world's best athletes. Do you agree?
A: I heard him comment hockey players were some of the best athletes. I can't disagree with him on that.
Around the league
The Wild gave Marian Gaborik a three-year, $9.5-million contract. He gave them five goals in his first 33 games. ... You had to forgive the snickers when Blackhawks general manager Bob Pulford said he might try to sign captain Alex Zhamnov rather than trade him before his $4.5-million contract expires after the season. Chicago has lost Jeremy Roenick, Tony Amonte, Ed Belfour and Chris Chelios to free agency or trades made for economic reasons. ... Cam Neely's No.8 was the 10th number retired by the Bruins. ... Predators defenseman Jamie Allison, a former Canadian amateur singing champ, will audition for RCA executives Tuesday. ... NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield will sport the logo of the 2004 All-Star Game on his No. 19 Dodge for the Feb. 7 Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
Quotable
"You can still hear the catcalls. I can, honestly, say I hate going back there. It's good to see family and friends, but I can't wait until the game is over."
- Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios on playing in Chicago, where he starred and owns a restaurant.
- Compiled by Times staff writer Damian Cristodero from personal interviews and information from other news organizations.
