New York Islanders defenceman Janne Niinimaa was kicked out of practice by irate head coach Steve Stirling following an on-ice dispute, Newsday reported Monday.
Stirling, whose Islanders (6-8-0-0) find themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings, decided he had heard enough of Niinimaa's complaining, and ordered the Finn to leave the ice.
"He was moaning and (complaining) and I didn't want to hear anymore," Stirling told Newsday. "Nothing else to say. It's about keep your mouth shut and work ... It's a distraction. So why not get rid of the distraction for the hour so we can get some work done? And we did."
Stirling had criticized Niinimaa for a mistake he made during a drill. Niinimaa insists he wasn't talking back but said he wanted to do the drill over again.
"The next thing I heard was, `Get off,"' Niinimaa said. "I didn't want to make matters worse so I went off and had a good workout off the ice ... It woke up the team. I understand the guys practised real hard."
Niinimaa, a former all-star, has just one goal and two assists with a minus-five rating in 11 games this season - one of several underachieving players responsible for the Islanders' slow start to the season. Stirling said he hoped the Niniimaa outburst would motivate his team, which has dropped four of its last five games.
"I'd like to see more guys show emotion," Stirling said. "I'd like to see someone break a stick so I can say, `Okay, there is a heartbeat there.'"
The Islanders play in New Jersey on Tuesday.
from:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=142354&hubname=nhl
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Isles' Niinimaa kicked out of practice
Isles' Niinimaa kicked out of practice
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