NHL's Department of Player Safety makes announcement following Bryan Rust's reckless hit on Brock Boeser
Photo credit: Sergei Belski - Imagn Images.
The National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety has made an announcement on social media following Bryan Rust's hit on Brock Boeser last night.
On Sunday night, the Vancouver Canucks welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins to town for their only trip to the Lower Mainland during the 2025-26 season and while Adam Foote's group wasn't able to get the job done, there were more important things to deal with as the buzzer sounded.
With the clock abouot to his zero, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust elbowed Brock Boeser in the head, resulting in the officials handing him a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head and many questions about whether or not a suspension should be handed out.
"Bryan Rust get the elbow up on Brock Boeser late in the third." Canucks Army shared on X.
NHL Department of Player Safety makes announcement after Bryan Rust's hit
Understandably, Bryan Rust's hit drew the ire of the Vancouver Canucks, including Head Coach Adam Foote, who spoke about it with reporters post-game and called it "vicious" and that he expects the league to take a long look at it.
"It was a headshot. It was shoulder and his head. I'm sure the league will look at it because it was, even though he may have been desperate to get Boes down because it was a scrum at the net, I still think it was something that you got to be in control of your body. I thought it was a little bit of a vicious, vicious hit to the head." Foote said."
Well, it looks like Adam Foote was right because on Monday morning, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced that Bryan Rust will have a hearing for his hit on Brock Boeser, with the date and time of said hearing still to be determined.
"Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust will have a hearing for an illegal check to the head against Vancouver's Brock Boeser. Date and time TBD." the NHL's Department of Player Safety said on X.
While Bryan Rust has never been suspended or fined in his 11+ year career in the National Hockey League, it'll be very hard to see him escaping any supplemental discipline for his hit on Sunday night.
Meanwhile for Brock Boeser, his status for tomorrow night's game against the San Jose Sharks remains unclear as of Monday morning. The 28-year-old has been on the receiving end of a hit like this before dating back to November 2024 when he missed seven games after being struck in the head by Tanner Jeannot, who received a three-game suspension.
Also read on Vancouver Hockey Daily :
Vancouver Canucks organization announces roster demotion involving 22-year-old prospect
Vancouver Canucks organization announces roster demotion involving 22-year-old prospect
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily