Ojibwa player has anger problem

After Latest Incident, Isles’ Simon to Get HelpThe Islanders announced Monday that they were giving [Chris] Simon an indefinite leave of absence, one day before the National Hockey League was to decide whether Simon would be suspended for stamping on the foot of Pittsburgh forward Jarkko Ruutu on Saturday.

Simon, a 230-pound left wing, was suspended by the league for 25 games in March for hitting Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg in the face with his stick, a suspension that was completed at the start of this season.

[Coach Ted] Nolan and Simon are members of the Ojibwa First Nation tribe. Simon played under Nolan in junior hockey with Sault Ste. Marie in the 1991-92 season; Nolan helped Simon quit drinking and gave him the incentive to turn around his life.