Jansen Harkins on Getting Cross Checked in the Neck

Hockey is a violent and dangerous spot. There’s no way around it. At any moment, you can get a nick, scratch or bruise. But, you certainly don’t expect to take a stick directly to the throat.

That’s what Anaheim Ducks forward Jansen Harkins experienced on Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins. As Nikita Nesterenko drove to the net with the puck, so too did Harkins—as any shrewd player would—to follow up on any potential rebounds. Nesterenko’s effort made its way past Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, good stuff.

But Bruins defenseman Michael Callahan got his stick up high while trying to box out Harkins, resulting in a vicious cross check directly to Harkins’ throat. Callahan received a double-minor penalty for high sticking, with one of the penalties being wiped away immediately due to Nesterenko’s goal. On Thursday, Callahan was fined the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“I didn't really see it, I just felt it,” Harkins said. His neck was still noticeably red from the impact. “I know I got it straight to the neck and obviously I want (the penalty) to be as many minutes as possible for the benefit of the team. Wasn’t really disappointed that he had to stay in the game and kind of settled it the next period.”

What Harkins is referring to is the bout that he and Callahan got into during the third period. Harkins was able to get in a few punches and eventually took Callahan down to the ice, which was met with raucous applause from the home fans and many stick taps from the Anaheim bench.

“That’s just frustration,” Harkins said. “Nobody likes to be hit in the head or (somewhere) that you don't like. Kudos to him. I dropped (the gloves), he dropped and I think that's what we love about hockey. You can kind of just keep it on the ice, that's the best way to do it. It was a good amount of fun.”

Harkins had a long chat with one of the officials during a TV timeout while in the box and said that he told the official that he wasn’t happy about the penalty only being two minutes.

But after an explanation from the official, Harkins said that he thought the official’s thoughts were valid. “I think it was fair and at the end of the day, I think we both got what we wanted.

“Those things happen. 
I've gotten my stick up on people before by accident and (you’re) usually not trying to hit people like that, so I don't think it was on purpose. It's just hockey and him trying to defend me trying to go to the net. It is what it is.”