Rarely in the NHL do players receive fines for goal celebrations, but one is likely on the way for Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference.
Ference flipped the bird to the Bell Centre crowd in Montreal on Thursday night after scoring in the second period, a goal that brought the Bruins to within a goal of the hometown Canadiens.
The gesture was replayed on Hockey Night in Canada soon after, as CBC colour analyst Glenn Healy opined that the league will be fining Ference for the move.
“It’s what he does after he scores the goal that enrages me,” Healy said. “Andrew Ference, you better get ready to open up your wallet because this little act here after you scored the goal ... isn’t called for.”
The maximum allowed player fine under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement is only $2,500 (U.S.), a pittance given Ference made $2.25-million this season.
There's also the possibility of a suspension. The NHL suspended Canadiens defenceman James Wisniewski, who was then with the New York Islanders, two games for an obscene gesture in October.
