Ranger rudeness to Islander Ice Girls won't be examined any further

Henrik Lundqvist won't be punished for his aggressive behaviour towards a couple of the Islanders "Ice Girls".

Long Island's Newsday provided some background on the cold war between the Rangers and the Island girls..

NHL: Ice Girls flap done
The league says no disciplinary action will be taken against Henrik Lundqvist or the Rangers.

BY GREG LOGAN
gregory.logan@newsday.com

April 5, 2007, 11:23 PM EDT

From all indications, no disciplinary action will be taken by the NHL against goaltender Henrik Lundqvist or the Rangers for their aggressive actions toward two Islanders "Ice Girls" Tuesday night at Nassau Coliseum.

"This matter is closed," NHL spokesman Frank Brown said before the Islanders' game against the Maple Leafs Thursday night.

The two "Ice Girls" said they were subjected to rude conduct by the Rangers during the Islanders' 3-2 shootout win. Kelli Higgins said Lundqvist refused to move when she tried to clear the snow from the crease during the first TV timeout and that he used his goalie stick to hither squeegee. Chanel Benson said someone from the Rangers' bench spit on her as she skated past during the second TV timeout.

NHL chief of discipline Colin Campbell declined to comment on the subject when his office was contacted Thursday; Lundqvist was not available before the Rangers' game against Montreal. "Ice Girl" Kelli Higgins spoke after the game Thursday night. An Islanders spokesman said the club will not pursue disciplinary action beyond reporting details of the incident to the league.

One thing is clear: Lundqvist's refusal to move while the crease was cleared during the first period was wrong. As Brown said when questioned about the goaltender's responsibility, "He's supposed to move. That's all we have to say about it."

In discussing the situation earlier, Higgins noted that Lundqvist is the one visiting goaltender who has resisted all season allowing the "Ice Girls" to do their job.

"He's the only one we have a problem with that doesn't move," Higgins said. "He absolutely refuses to move. So we're always having to go around him. That's not fair because he hides the snow in there."

During the first TV timeout Thursday night, Higgins and Benson led one group of "Ice Girls" onto the ice to the tune of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" being played on the public address system. Maple Leafs goaltender Andrew Raycroft politely moved aside.

So it seems there's no penalty for rudeness. "We don't want an apology," Isles vice president of operations Tim Beach said, "but flowers would be nice."