Elisha Cuthbert Remarks Get Sean Avery Suspended

The NHL rarely makes national headlines anymore, unless it is for particularly vicious hits or behavior from players. Sean Avery has done his part with various acts of dirty play and commentary over the years. The former Rangers enforcer turned Dallas Stars enforcer has now gotten himself suspended again, this time for some colorful off ice comments about his famous ex-girlfriend.

Avery was once involved with actress Elisha Cuthbert, better known and mocked as crisis magnet Kim Bauer on 24. Cuthbert has since moved on to date another NHL player, Calgary Flames star Dion Phaneuf. Avery had some prepared remarks for Phaneuf and Cuthbert before the Stars faced the Flames on Tuesday night.

When Avery said it was a common thing for NHL players to "fall in love with my sloppy seconds" everyone in the know quickly realized what that meant. The NHL and Gary Bettman certainly knew it.

For the none-too-subtle reference to Cuthbert and Phaneuf, Avery was suspended indefinitely pending a meeting with Bettman.

Avery has also been reported to have dated model Rachel Hunter, who is now the fiancee of Los Angeles Kings player Jarrett Stoll. That would make Cuthbert the second woman to break up with Avery and then find another NHL boyfriend, hence Avery's off color metaphor.

Cuthbert and Avery were first reported to be dating in 2005, when Avery was with the Kings. There were rumors that they would be engaged, but the two split in August 2007.

Cuthbert is not the only person in Avery's universe to turn on him. NHL players once voted Avery as the most hated man in hockey in a poll. Avery even inspired the "Avery Rule" of prohibiting players from distracting goalies, as Avery did when he waved his stick in front of Martin Brodeur's face in a playoff game.

Avery had his fans when he was performing these antics for the New York Rangers. But the Rangers had enough of him and let him go to Dallas, where he signed a four-year deal with the Stars.

Even the Stars quickly turned on Avery after his comments about Cuthbert and Phaneuf, as Dallas owner Tom Hicks said that he would have suspended him if the NHL did not.

Without Avery, the Stars still managed to beat Phaneuf and the Flames, 3-1.

Sources

New York Daily News- "NHL suspends Sean Avery over messy remarks about ex Elisha Cuthbert" www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/2008/12/02/2008-12-02_nhl_suspends_sean_avery_over_messy_remar.html

Ace Showbiz- "Elisha Cuthbert and Sean Avery Split" www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00010968.html