Sports Headlines

Cooke Not Suspended; GM’s Head Shot Framework

The NHL announced Wednesday Penguins forward Matt Cooke would not be punished for a blindside hit which left Bruins forward Marc Savard with a concussion. Savard was taken off the ice Sunday on a stretcher and is out indefinitely. Meantime the league’s general managers now have the framework for a new rule which punishes players who deliver head shots. It allows referees to assess penalties for blindside hits that target the head. Any recommendation would need the approval of the Board of Governors and would not affect the 2009-2010 season.