NHL & Minor Leagues » Roenick strikes back

Roenick unapologetic for hard-hitting style
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ESPN.com news services

After serving a two-game suspension for knocking Dallas center Mike Modano into the boards last week, Flyers center Jeremy Roenick returns to Philadelphia's lineup tonight against the red-hot Ottawa Senators.

Roenick was suspended for knocking Modano head-first into the boards in the first period of Tuesday's 2-2 tie with the Stars. And the criticism he has been getting while sitting out hasn't left him rethinking his style of play, either.

"They can kiss my (behind) all they want. I could care less," Roenick told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday. "I've played this game 15 years and been suspended twice now. People call me dirty, call me cheap. I play the game hard.

"If they don't like hard players or a league of tough players, go watch Ping-Pong or badminton. This is a man's game. I'm not going to stop hitting."

Roenick said people -- especially the Senators -- will know tonight that he's back on the ice.

"I am going to hit someone hard," he told the Inquirer. "I will hit him clean and legal like I've done for over 1,000 games in this league."

"I am going to come at people even harder just to spite everybody" who has served up criticism, Roenick said.

Roenick has apologized to Modano, who turned into the glass on a play along the boards, instead of turning up the ice, when Roenick hit him. Modano was placed on injured reserve Friday because he showed signs of post-concussion syndrome. His return to the Stars is undetermined.

"The club wanted to err on the side of caution," Stars spokesman Rob Scichili said.

Roenick told the Inquirer the NHL's justice system is skewed, citing the Flyers' Todd Fedoruk being hit from behind by Mike Fisher in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Ottawa. Fedoruk suffered a concussion and needed 40 stitches to close a cut on his head.

No penalty was called.

"I think the league dropped the ball on another one. I lose $83,000 for hitting Modano from behind, and I accept it," Roenick told the newspaper, referring to the income lost as a result of his suspension. "Fisher does the same thing and gets no penalty. That shows how screwed up everything is in this ... league sometimes."

"The game is like touch football," he added. "Guys are afraid to go out and hit somebody or get hurt, or make a hit and get a penalty. You just don't know what to do out there. What's right with this game and what's wrong? It's a big problem."

Roenick is tied with injured left wing John LeClair for the team lead with 11 goals. The Flyers had a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) snapped with Saturday's loss to the Senators. The loss was just Philadelphia's third in its last 10.

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