It has been a couple of years since Trevor Gillies has caused a ruckus on the ice in the NHL, but after taking his talents to a team in Finland, the pugilist showed his style of play hasn’t changed much even if the scenery has.
The former Ducks and Islanders enforcer racked up 261 penalty minutes in only 57 games with the two clubs. With only three points to his name, Gillies is most remembered for his reckless antics, including a nine-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Penguins in 2011, and in his first game back from the punishment, he was slapped with a 10-game ban for delivering a hit from behind on Cal Clutterbuck.
The agitator added to his record on Friday night, as the former NHLer took down another ex-player in a matchup of HIFK Helsinki teams. During the matchup, Jarkko Ruutu, another notorious pest who played 11 seasons in the NHL, skated over to Gillies and was greeted with a swift punch to the face.
According to Puck Daddy, Ruutu had been playing his role all game, chirping and taking cheap shots at Gillies’ teammates, but when Gillies asked him if he wanted to fight during a faceoff, Ruutu declined the offer, and a sucker punch was his present for saying no.
Gillies has since been suspended for the hit, but that may not be all of the punishment he receives. According to Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, and translated by Puck Daddy, the incident has also been reported to the police with a citizen filing a report for assault. A police official told the newspaper that they will conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether to pursue the case any further.
Check out a video of the crazy play below.
