Controversial former NHL player named head coach of the Cambridge Redhawks

Todd Bertuzzi appeared in a Red Wings jersey in this undated stock photo. (Courtesy: TSN)

A former NHL player has been named as the Cambridge Redhawks’ new bench boss.

Todd Bertuzzi will be joining the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League team for the 2025/2026 season.

In a social media post on Monday, the team wrote, “We’re excited for what’s ahead – let’s go Redhawks!”

Bertuzzi’s career

Bertuzzi played for the Guelph Storm from 1991 until 1995. In his last year with the Storm, he was one of the Ontario Hockey League’s top scorers and Bertuzzi is currently listed as Guelph’s record holder for single season goals.

From there, he went to join the NHL, playing for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panters, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames.

On-ice incident

When Bertuzzi was playing for the Canucks he made headlines for an on-ice attack on the Colorado Avalanche’s Steve Moore.

Prior to the incident, on Feb. 16, 2004, Moore was criticized for an open-ice hit on Canuck’s captain Markus Naslund. The NHL ruled that hit was legal.

During a game on March 8, 2004, Bertuzzi grabbed Moore’s jersey and punched him in the head from behind, sending him crashing face-first into the ice. Bertuzzi fell on top of Moore, and other players piled on, as several other fights broke out.

Trainers rushed to his side and Moore was taken off the ice on a stretcher.

He suffered a concussion and fractured vertebrae.

The hit ended Moore’s NHL career.

Bertuzzi made a public appearance days later and, while fighting back tears, apologized to Moore and his family.

He was suspended for the rest of the season and the Canucks were fined.

A settlement was reached in 2014 after Moore named Bertuzzi, among others, in a $68 million lawsuit.

Geoff Adair, a lawyer for Bertuzzi, confirmed a settlement was reached, but the terms of the deal were confidential.

Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to criminal assault causing bodily harm for the hit and was sentenced to a year of probation and 80 hours of community service.

He was reinstated to the NHL in 2005 and played for Team Canada at the Olympics in 2006 in Turin, Italy.

With files from The Canadian Press