Watch: Rangers defenseman Ben Harpur ejected for charging into goalie Felix Sandstrom in AHL game

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Nov 09, 2024 11:10 GMT

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Rangers defenseman Ben Harpur was ejected from a recent AHL game after charging into goaltender Felix Sandstrom. He was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. The incident happened when Harpur and Hartford Wolf Pack were already down 5-1.

NHL News shared a video of the hit, calling it an "intent-to-injure" hit.

"Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this before…Ben Harpur was given a 5 min. major and a game misconduct tonight in the AHL for charging into G Felix Sandstrom. And he certainly did it with the intent to injure the goalie," the post read.

The Flyers Zone also shared the video on X, saying:

"Former Flyers goaltender Felix Sandstrom was charged into by Ben Harpur tonight. Harpur was given a 5 minute major and game misconduct for this intent-to-injure."

Harpur, who has played over 40 NHL games now, gained attention for his hard hits during the 2017-18 season with Ottawa. At 16, he switched from forward to defense. While he developed his tough style in the AHL and OHL, his behavior has raised concerns about his decision-making and self-control.

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Ben Harpur's inadequate performance and missing NHL time

Ben Harpur is currently signed to the New York Rangers but his NHL career started with the Ottawa Senators. The senators picked him in the 2013 draft. He spent time in the AHL and played a few NHL games before the Toronto Maple Leafs got him in a trade in 2019. Harpur had difficulty making it onto the NHL team and was eventually traded to the Nashville Predators.

He spent two seasons with the Predators but didn’t have an NHL contract for the 2022–23 season. In October 2022, he signed a tryout contract with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Harpur also signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Rangers, following which he played 46 games and scored six points.

In January 2023, he signed a two-year contract extension but did not play in the NHL last season. This season as well, has not made it to the NHL lineup.