TORONTO, March 11 (UPI) -- The NHL Thursday suspended the Vancouver Canucks' Todd Bertuzzi for at least the rest of this season for his blind-side attack on Colorado's Steve Moore.
Moore remained hospitalized with two broken vertebrae in his neck and other injuries.
Bertuzzi punched Moore from behind, knocking him face-first to the ice, and then fell on top of him in a game Monday night. The ice was streaked with blood and Moore was removed by stretcher.
Bertuzzi's suspension could last longer than this season.
"No final determination on the total duration of Mr. Bertuzzi's suspension has yet been made," said Colin Campbell, the league's director of hockey operations.
He said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would make that decision prior to next season's training camp.
"We want to make clear that this type of conduct will not be tolerated by the NHL," Campbell said.
The NHL also fined the Canucks $250,000 and said Bertuzzi would forfeit at least $501,000 that will be paid by the club into the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Bertuzzi made a tearful public apology Wednesday night.
