Ben Chiarot is a lucky man. At least in this instance. The Detroit Red Wings defenseman was fined $5,000 for spearing New Jersey Devils blueliner Simon Nemec, the maximum amount permitted under the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
There was no penalty called on the ice, but the cameras saw everything. Once the clip went viral, it was only a matter of time before the league took notice. And that brings us to the uncomfortable truth: this could have been significantly worse for Chiarot.
Ben Chiarot has a history of spearing
A little more than eight years ago, Chiarot — then with the Winnipeg Jets — delivered a butt-end to Corey Perry’s chin, opening a gash that required roughly 20 stitches.