Stars' Antoine Roussel Fined By NHL Player Safety

Stars’ Antoine Roussel Fined By NHL Player Safety

Nov 4, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Antoine Roussel (21) is led off the ice by linesman Derek Amell (75) after being called for a penalty during the first period against the Los Angeles Kings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Stars forward Antoine Roussel was fined for sucker-punching San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun

The Dallas Stars not only lost their game Saturday night- they got into some legal trouble, as well.

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Late in the third period, the Stars and the San Jose Sharks dissolved into chaos on the ice.

The cause? Dallas forward Antoine Roussel had made a monster hit on the Sharks’ netminder, Alex Stalock. San Jose blue liner Marc-Edouard Vlasic wasn’t very thrilled, rushed Roussel, and a scrum ensued.

Just two days later, Roussel is being fined by the NHL Department of Player Safety- but not for the hit on Stalock.

Dallas F Antoine Roussel fined $5,376.34 (maximum under CBA) for punching an unsuspecting opponent, San Jose D Justin Braun.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 10, 2014

During the scrum, Roussel sucker-punched blue liner Justin Braun, who was not only not expecting it- he was unable to defend himself.

Roussel, a 24-year old native of Roubaix, France, was also given a misconduct for the hit on the netminder. Many have called it ‘classless’, and criticized the forward for his behavior throughout the entire situation.

The worst part? He wasn’t doing it to fire his team up- and if he was, it didn’t work. The Stars fell 5-3 to the Sharks that night, bringing them to seven consecutive losses this season. There is no word yet on whether the fine- particularly paired with a misconduct, and his fourth-line status- will affect Roussel’s ice time with the Dallas franchise.

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