NHL FanHouse

Blackhawks' Patrick Kane Pleads Guilty to Disorderly Conduct

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, NHL Police Blotter

BUFFALO, N.Y.(AP) -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and his cousin pleaded guilty Thursday to a noncriminal charge of disorderly conduct and were ordered to send an apology to the cab driver they were accused of roughing up over 20 cents.

The 20-year-old player and his 21-year-old cousin, James Kane, were given conditional discharges, meaning they will avoid any penalties if they stay out of trouble for a year and write apologies to cabbie Jan Radecki.

"Obviously, I'm in a little different situation than most kids at this age but at the same time I think it's definitely been a learning lesson and something I want to move forward on," Kane told City Court Judge Thomas Amodeo before receiving his sentence. "It's maybe better I learn it now than later in life."

Outside the courtroom, Kane apologized to his family, the city, the Blackhawks and his fans "for being in a regrettable situation."

"But it's behind me. It's time to move on," he said.

Accompanied by his parents, Kane took no questions from reporters, stopping only to deliver his statement as he left the courthouse in his hometown.

In court, defense lawyer Paul Cambria said Kane is a law-abiding person and outstanding athlete.

"He desires to be a tremendous role model and I believe that he is," Cambria said.

Radecki told police the cousins attacked him Aug. 9 when he said he didn't have 20 cents in change for their fare. The driver had bruises and broken glasses.

Later reports indicated the dispute started after Radecki, following the practice of some other drivers in college neighborhoods, locked the cab doors until collecting the fare to ensure his passengers did not leave without paying. Radecki said the Kanes gave him $15 for a $13.80 fare and that he gave them a dollar back but did not have coins for the final 20 cents.

Cambria said Radecki has a lesson to learn, too.

"Cab drivers, if any of them try to lock people in the car and just presume that they're not going to pay them, and when they ask to be released so they can get out and get their money out of their pocket, they shouldn't keep the doors locked and drive the car down the street," Cambria said.

When asked whether Patrick Kane struck the cabbie, Cambria said, "I absolutely have no basis to say that he struck Mr. Radecki. I wasn't there. You weren't there."

Message left by The Associated Press for Radecki's lawyer, Andrew LoTempio, were not immediately returned Thursday.

Attorneys said Radecki sought no restitution, just an apology.

The Kanes were indicted Aug. 19 on misdemeanor charges of assault and theft of services and harassment, a violation. A grand jury dismissed a more serious felony assault charge.

"It's amazing that you're even here," Amodeo told the Kanes from the bench. "If you look at the situation and think of 'what did I do?' and all the other alternatives you had to deal with the situation, it wasn't a smart move."

Amodeo could have sentenced the Kanes to as many as 15 days in jail and a $250 fine.

Patrick Kane was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft and the NHL's rookie of the year in 2008.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Blackhawks' Patrick Kane Pleads Guilty to Disorderly Conduct originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick Kane Facing Misdemeanor and Violation Charges

Adam Gretz — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, NHL Police Blotter

Wednesday was an important day for Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and his cousin, James Kane, as they were indicted on misdemeanor and violation charges for an alleged altercation with a Buffalo cab driver back on Aug. 9. According to the district attorney in Buffalo, a grand jury also dismissed a felony charge for second-degree robbery.

If you'll recall, the two were arrested when they allegedly attacked a cab driver and took their money back when the driver informed them he didn't have 20 cents change to give them.

Gene Warner of the Buffalo News reports the two sides are still working toward an agreement that would "have the Kanes either plead to just a violation, probably harassment, or be granted an adjournment that could lead to the case being dismissed months later."

More from Warner:

If no plea deal is reached, a possible conviction on either of the misdemeanor charges could lead to up to a year in jail, but that's not expected to happen here. "For a first offense, that's extremely rare," Sedita said. "In similar cases, even if the defendants were convicted as charged after trial, it would be unusual for them to see any substantial time in jail." Legal experts pointed out why the third-degree assault charge seems to make sense in this case. Third-degree assault applies when the victim suffers a physical injury without a weapon being used. More serious assault charges, which are felonies, are lodged when there's either serious physical injury or a weapon is used, or both. Law-enforcement sources have said there was no evidence that a weapon was used in the Aug. 9 incident or that the Kanes entered the taxicab with any intent to forcibly steal money.

Kane addressed the incident earlier this week at the Team USA orientation camp and apologized for the pain he caused his family, teammates, fans and his hometown of Buffalo.

Patrick Kane Facing Misdemeanor and Violation Charges originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick Kane Arrested for Allegedly Robbing, Assaulting Cab Driver

Tom Mantzouranis — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, NHL Police Blotter

Patrick Kane, the Buffalo native who was selected first overall in the 2007 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, was arrested early Sunday morning along with a relative for allegedly assaulting a cab driver and failing to pay their fare. The two were leaving Chippewa Street, the hub of Buffalo's nightlife.

Actually, they technically paid their fare, but allegedly punched the driver and took the money back when the driver notified them he didn't have 20 cents in change to give them. They were arrested at about 5 AM, three days after Kane attended an event with the mayor in Buffalo to celebrate the opening of an ice rink and park facilities.

"It's special for me, it's the place I grew up," Kane said at the time. "The best part is coming back and hanging out with your buddies and family." He didn't list "assault and robbery" as other special things about returning back home.

According to the driver, the fare was $13.80 and the pair paid the driver $15. When the driver couldn't produce 20 cents, he claims he was punched in the face and head, grabbed by the throat and had his glasses broken. A torn $5 bill was later found in James Kane's pocket.

Both Patrick and James were charged with second-degree robbery, a felony, as well as fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both misdemeanors.

Kane is one of the best young wingers in the game, and FanHouse's 47th best player in the NHL.

Kane is in the last year before restricted free agency, one of the Blackhawks' young stars expected to receive a hefty raise. Still, you would think that he would have enough banked on his current salary to toss a Buffalo cabbie $1.20 in change (compared to the cost his character and wallet will face thanks to the alleged incident, a buck and change seems a minor pittance).

Then again, when you're 20 you make stupid decisions. With his name in the headlines, the rising star is probably regretting this one.

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Sports Figures in Trouble With the Law

Aug. 9: Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane is charged with attacking a cab driver in his hometown. According to the police report, the driver said he was hit because he did not have 20 cents in change to give Kane and his cousin. Click through to see more sports figures who ran into trouble with the law.

Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

Athletes in Trouble With the Law

Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

Aug. 5 Defensive end Juqua Parker was arrested on a marijuana possession charge near the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp.

Aug. 2: Roger Mayweather, the uncle and trainer of Floyd Mayweather Jr., faces felony coercion and battery charges.

Tom Shaw, Getty Images

July 16: The Phoenix Mercury suspended Diana Taurasi for two games after she was cited on drunk-driving related charges. Taurasi was also cited for speeding during the incident on July 2.

Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE / Getty Images

July 14: Former Brazilian soccer star Romario was arrested for allegedly failing to make child support payments.

Ricardo Moraes, AP

July 15: Former NFL running back Travis Henry Henry was sentenced to three years in federal prison for financing a drug trafficking operation.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

July 14: Former NBA star Antoine Walker faces criminal charges stemming from $822,500 in gambling debts. Prosecutors say he failed to make good on 10 checks totaling $1 million written to Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort.

Joe Murphy, NBAE / Getty Images

July 9: Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith was given a 90-day suspended jail sentence for his DUI conviction.

Chris O'Meara, AP

July 2: Former major leaguer Jim Leyritz was arrested on charges of domestic battery against his ex-wife, just two months before his trial on a DUI manslaughter charge was set to begin.

Larry Marano, Getty Images

June 30: Nuggets star J.R. Smith was sentenced to 90 days in jail for causing an auto accident that killed his friend. The judge suspended 60 days of the sentence provided Smith performs 500 hours of community service.

Chris Carlson, AP

Patrick Kane Arrested for Allegedly Robbing, Assaulting Cab Driver originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vancouver's Alex Burrows Investigated for Summer Hockey Incident

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:35:00 EST

Filed under: Canucks, Western, NHL Police Blotter

Anyone who is a fan of a Northwest Division team knows how Alex Burrows of Vancouver plays. He's not the biggest player on the Canucks, but he's intense, physical, and one of those players who's not afraid of anything on the ice.

He's also the kind of guy who will drive opponents absolutely crazy, because he refuses to give up on a play, and he loves getting in the goalie's face. According to a published report, Burrows is under investigation for allegedly taking that intensity a little bit too far in a summer game.

During a summer hockey game in Montreal, Burrows allegedly got mixed up with a goalie.

According to a report on RDS.ca, an investigation is underway in response to a complaint filed on July 21 that states Burrows violently struck the face of a goaltender with his stick during a game at the Excellent Ice Arena in Kirkland, Que.

Burrows' agent isn't sure how this will play out.

Burrows' agent, Paul Corbeil, said police were called to the arena after the alleged incident, but no arrests were made.

Asked by the Vancouver Sun if he was worried about the possibility of charges being laid, Corbeil said: "We need to be serious with that possibility, but there are no charges right now. We'll see.

"I think everything will be okay. I think so, but you never know."

The summer league Burrows was taking part in includes professional and amateur players.

Vancouver's Alex Burrows Investigated for Summer Hockey Incident originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Andrei, Sergei Kostitsyn Cleared

Adam Gretz — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Canadiens, NHL Media Watch, NHL Police Blotter

Back in February, the Montreal media, and by extension, everybody else in the hockey world, was awaiting a bombshell of a story that was sure to not only rock the very foundation the Montreal Canadiens franchise stood on, but also forever tarnish the legacy of the NHL's most storied team in its centennial season. In other words: this was going to be huge.

I remember having 14 browsers open, furiously clicking the refresh button waiting to see something scandalous, only to be severely disappointed.

As it turns out, a couple of players, Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn specifically, had some connections to Pasquale Mangiola, a gangster that had been busted in a sting operation. Mangiola allegedly had access to the brothers' credit cards and bank statements, while also setting them up with houses and cars when they arrived in Montreal. Somebody you want your players to be involved with? Absolutely not. Something that would forever tear down the reputation of your franchise and bring former players to tears at the very thought of it? Certainly possible, I guess, but doubtful.

Worry not, Habs fans, because according to multiple reports coming out on Friday, Montreal police have cleared the Kostitsyn's of any wrongdoing in the case.

From TSN:

Montreal police fully cleared Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn of any illegal activity after the Canadiens players were linked to a man who was arrested in a sting operation in February. A police spokesman told Le Journal de Montreal that 5,000 phone calls made by Pasquale Mangiola were replayed to see if he had any incriminating conversations with the brothers. According to Le Journal, roughly 2,000 of those calls involved the Kostitsyns, but there was no evidence of criminal activity or sports betting. There was also no evidence of any wrongdoing with Canadiens defenceman Roman Hamrlik, who was also associated with Mangiola.

Now they (Sergei, anyway) can get back to important things ... like trying to fight Mikhail Grabovski.

Report: Andrei, Sergei Kostitsyn Cleared originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 29 May 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capitals Strike Back on Steroid Report

Eric McErlain — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Rumors

Wednesday afternoon, the NHL and the Washington Capitals issued statements in response to allegations made Tuesday night by a man arrested for possession of steroids that he had sold performance-enhancing drugs to members of the Capitals and Washington Nationals.

First, here's NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly (pictured above right): "The Washington Capitals have no knowledge of any aspect of this allegation. Capitals players were subjected to no-notice testing three times in each of the past two seasons pursuant to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and there was no indication of any improper conduct or wrongdoing. Even though there are no specifics provided in the story and we have no reason, at this point, to believe the allegations are true, the National Hockey League takes all matters of this nature very seriously and will conduct a prompt investigation."

And here's Washington Capitals President, Dick Patrick (above left): "We have no reason to believe there is any merit to this story, but the National Hockey League and the Washington Capitals take all such allegations seriously. Capitals players have fully participated in the NHL's random drug testing program, and at no point has a Capitals player tested positive. In addition our players have been tested at international events, such as World Championships and Olympics. We welcome and will fully cooperate with the NHL's investigation."

Meanwhile, in separate interviews, members of the team have been stepping forward to deny the allegations.

Back in Washington, Tarik El Bashir of the Washington Post got Washington's NHLPA rep, Brooks Laich, on the record to talk about the story, while also talking to ex-Caps defenseman Steve Eminger. Both denied having any knowledge that any member of the team had ever used steroids or any other performance-enhancing drug, while also stressing that the team had been subject to regular testing -- three times per year -- for some time now. The word was much the same from Capitals winger Eric Fehr, who went on the record with Corey Masisack of the Washington Times.

Capitals Strike Back on Steroid Report originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suspect in Florida Steroids Bust Implicates Capitals and Nationals

Eric McErlain — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:19:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Rumors

Late on Tuesday night in Florida, law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of a suburban Tampa couple on multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal steroids. But the news that's going to reverberate around the country, and especially in the nation's capital, is that one of the suspects in the bust is crowing that he's supplied steroids to athletes across a number of professional sports, including to members of the NHL's Washington Capitals and MLB's Washington Nationals.

Update: Capitals, NHL Comment on Allegations

The story, which was just posted over at Tampa Bay Online (click here for the video from WFLA-TV in Tampa), is short on details. What we know now is that Richard Thomas and his wife, Sandra, both of Lakeland, Florida, were arrested yesterday after local authorities acted on a tip provided by the Philadelphia office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

When the pair were arrested, they were found with an estimated $200,000 worth of steroids (click here for pics of the haul). But much to the surprise of the Polk County Sheriff, rather than clam up, Thomas started bragging that he had supplied steroids to athletes all over the country. When pressed further, Thomas would only say that he had supplied steroids to members of the Capitals and Nationals, though he refused to name any individual players.

During the press conference, Sheriff Grady Judd went to pains to point out that he was simply passing on what Thomas had told him, not that he had uncovered any evidence that any member of either team had either purchased or used steroids. Said Judd, "I can tell you this, there will be a whole lot of people puckered up after the morning news."

Indeed. Stay tuned for more details.

Suspect in Florida Steroids Bust Implicates Capitals and Nationals originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 01:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alexei Kovalev Gets Mugged by Bruins Fan ... On the Ice

Kevin Schultz — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Canadiens, NHL Fans, NHL Police Blotter

There were a few scrums on the ice at the end of Game 1 between the Bruins and Canadiens Thursday night in Boston. After the Bruins scored an empty net goal to seal the deal with under a minute remaining, a scrum ensued in the corner along the boards. There were no big fights during the incident and it was a lot more grandstanding than anything else. In fact, the biggest story out of all of the end-game shenanigans was Montreal's Alexei Kovalev getting mugged (sort of) on the ice during the scrum.

I'm not sure what the crime rate is in Boston -- I hear it's a very nice city -- but, as with any sport, you may have to watch your back if you're an opposing player. If you're not careful, you may just have your stick stolen right out of your own hands!

Apparently what happened was that somehow Kovalev's stick found its way through one of the holes in the glass that photographers use to put their cameras through, and a gutsy fan decided that he wanted the stick. After a bit of a battle with the fan, Kovalev surrendered his stick and the fan celebrated his victory (pictured right). He may not have even been a Bruins fan for all we know because he's not, you know, wearing any Bruins attire.

Either way, teams heading to Boston during the playoffs should beware: Secure your valuables when leaving your hotel room, as well as while you are holding them during the game. (Do they make "the Club" for hockey sticks?)

And of course, the logical conclusion is that this stick will either end up hanging on this guy's wall as a great conversation starter ("Ey, wanna hear 'bout the time I ripped that stick outta this Russian guy's hands?") or on Ebay very soon. I took a quick check of the auction site this morning and there were no newly listed non-autographed Kovalev sticks up for sale. But it may only be a matter of time.

Alexei Kovalev Gets Mugged by Bruins Fan ... On the Ice originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flames Fan Forced Into Evaluation

Tom Mantzouranis — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Flames, NHL Police Blotter

Peter Stenzel, the 52-year-old Flames fan who placed threatening calls to the Blue Jackets and specifically goaltender Steve Mason, pleaded not guilty to charges of inducing panic and menace. The judge ordered him to undergo a psychological evaluation, which Stenzel's attorney objected to, and set bond at $50,000. Stenzel remained in custody after the hearing.

Seems like a pretty sound decision by the judge. And yes, we partially ran this update as an excuse to once again display Stenzel's mugshot, which is almost as interesting as ShamWow Vince's. [Columbus Dispatch]

Flames Fan Forced Into Evaluation originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Face-Painted Flyers Fan Faces Charges

Ted Starkey — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Flyers, NHL Fans, NHL Police Blotter

Back in October, with the Phillies on the verge of winning the city's first major sports championship in 25 years, there was a strange air hovering in Philadelphia -- literally.

Just a short walk away from Citizens Bank Park on the afternoon of Game 4 of the World Series, the Flyers hosted their Atlantic Division rivals from New Jersey. During the overtime of the Flyers' 3-2 win over the Devils on Oct. 25, a then-unknown fan threw a smoke-bomb onto the ice near the Devils' bench, causing a very weird scene at Wachovia Center.

As it turns out, the person responsible apparently isn't unknown anymore.

Philadelphia police have charged 25-year-old South Philadelphia resident Earl Green with tossing the smoke bomb on the ice, and he faces charges of causing and risking a catastrophe, possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, disrupting a public event, and disorderly conduct.

As a result of the charges, if found guilty, Green faces fines and jail time.

After interviewing fans in Sections 111 and 112, police also checked some photographs to see who might have thrown the bomb, and after reviewing the evidence, they targeted a pair of face-painters who fled the scene shortly after the incident.

Philadelphia Police Detective Eric Johnson told the Philadelphia Inquirer:

"But both had makeup on" - their faces were painted in the Flyers' orange and black colors - "and it made it a little more difficult" to identify them, he said.

While Puddy of "Seinfeld" fame is the most famous face-painted hockey fan of all-time, thanks to his "supporting the team" along with the charges levied against him, Green now is in line to become the most infamous.

Latest NHL Photos

Eastern Conference All-Stars Andrei Markov, Mike Komisarek, goalie Carey Price and Alex Kovalev, all from the Montreal Canadiens pose during the team's practice for the NHL All-Star game in Montreal, January 24, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (CANADA)

Reuters

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 24: Sophomore YoungStar Mason Raymond (L) of the Vancouver Canucks talks with NHL legend Frank Mahovlich in the locker room prior to the McDonalds/NHL All-Star Open Practice during the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend at the Bell Centre on January 24, 2009 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mason Raymond;Frank Mahovlich

NHLI via Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: (L-R Eastern Conference All-Stars Alex Kovalev, head coach Guy Carbonneau, Carey Price, Mike Komisarek and Andrei Markov of the Montreal Canadiens pose for a photo during the McDonalds/NHL All-Star open practice as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Kovalev;Guy Carbonneau;Carey Price;Mike Komisarek;Andrei Markov

Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Stars Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins pose together during the McDonalds/NHL All-Star open practice as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tim Thomas;Marc Savard;Zdeno Chara

Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers takes part in the McDonalds/NHL All-Star open practice as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Henrik Lundqvist

Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star head coach Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins takes part in the McDonalds/NHL All-Star open practice as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Claude Julien

Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins warms up during the McDonalds/NHL All-Star open practice as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tim Thomas

Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers warms up during the McDonalds/NHL All-Star open practice as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Henrik Lundqvist

Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star Carey Price of the Montreal warms up during the McDonalds/NHL All-Star open practice as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carey Price

Getty Images

Face-Painted Flyers Fan Faces Charges originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Fan's Allegations of a Horrifyingly Vulgar Confrontation With Sean Avery

Eric McErlain — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Predators, Stars, NHL Gossip, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Rumors

Over the past 48 hours or so, as the hockey world stopped dead to consider the behavior of one Sean Avery, I couldn't help but think back to the early part of October when, during a trip to the penalty box in Nashville, Avery decided to tangle with a Predators fan sitting next to the glass.

I'm sure some of you will remember this incident that took place back on Oct. 11:

At the time, it was impossible not to laugh a little. After all, who couldn't get a chuckle out of what looked to be a rather proper lady giving the NHL's No. 1 bad boy a piece of her mind. It was hard to get her out of my mind too. After all, she probably had a story to tell, one that plenty of other folks would like to hear.

And boy, does she have a story to tell.

(Editor's note: Some of the language that follows is extremely graphic and is not suitable for younger readers.)

First, I called the Nashville Predators. Their PR office told me they had no idea who the lady in the video was. Then, when I wrote about it for FanHouse, I appended a short note asking if any of our readers knew her identity. About 24 hours later, I got a note from a young woman named Morgan Teveit who wrote that she knew the woman in question and was "proud to be her daughter." She added that her mother was a tremendous fan and would be eager to talk to me. She even provided me with her mother's phone number.

And then, in a swirl of a thousand other things, I forgot about it. Until Wednesday night, that is, when I got Sandie Griffith on the phone.

The mother of two daughters, she's just shy of her 60th birthday. As a native of the American South, she didn't grow up with hockey, but happened to marry a man from Michigan who did. He turned her into a fan. She's been a Predators season ticket holder from Day One, and those seats near the visiting penalty box belong to her and her husband.

Mrs. Griffith's relationship with Avery began a number of years ago when he was still playing for the Los Angeles Kings. According to her account, Avery was up to his usual tricks when Nashville's Darcy Hordichuk decided it was time to hold Avery accountable, and challenged him to drop the gloves. Avery, as is his wont, declined to dance.

From here, I'll hand things over to Griffith's daughter, Morgan. The following comes from an email exchange we had back in October:

Avery wouldn't fight and all he would do was cower away and cover his head "like a turtle". When the newspaper printed a picture of Avery covering his head like that, my parents said he looked just like a turtle trying to hide, so they started called him "Turtleman". Then, the next time Avery came in town to play, my parents were prepared. They took the newspaper photo of him covering his head and had it blown up and had multiple copies printed, and brought the poster-size photos with them to the game and taped them up to the glass on the penalty box and held them up when he'd skate by. When he finally saw the picture, he was absolutely livid. Ever since then, they give him a hard time and call him Turtleman.

"He is a pest and he's a dirty player," Griffith told me on Wednesday night. "He cannot control himself when confronted ... it doesn't matter what the situation is, he cannot control himself ... I've seen this over the years, it's kind of been like a joke."

"But this last incident ... his language to me was so foul and so crude that I cannot even believe that it was coming from his mouth," Griffith told me.

Sean Averys Strange Career

Dallas Stars player Sean Avery, right, has been suspended after using a crude term about his former girlfriends now dating other hockey players. One of those ex-girlfriends, actress Elisha Cuthbert, center, now goes out with Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Click through to see more of Avery's career twists.

Getty Images / FilmMagic

In New York's series against New Jersey last season, Avery made headlines for attempting to distract Devils goalie Martin Brodeur in an unusual way. The NHL immediately made a rule change to prevent a repeat.

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

It was announced last season that Avery would intern for Vogue magazine, as the agitator also has shown a keen interest in fashion. Avery is pictured here at a fashion show in September 2007.

Rob Loud, Getty Images

Avery was mentioned in media reports as being connected to the prostitution ring that brought down New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer. But Avery laughed off the accusations.

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

Earlier last season, Avery was accused of making a cancer-related remark to Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake, pictured, who is coping a rare form of leukemia.

Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

The incident led to numerous fights between Maple Leafs tough guy Darcy Tucker and Avery, with both teams getting fined and the incidents creating news.

Graig Abel, Getty Images

Broadcaster Brian Hayward was subjected to a tirade from Avery in 2006. The then-Kings forward was upset with Hayward's comments on a local broadcast.

Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

In October 2005, Avery was accused of making a racial slur against then-Oilers enforcer Georges Laraque.

Andy Marlin, Getty Images

A month earlier, Avery was fined for anti-Francophone comments he made after Coyotes forward Denis Gauthier put a hit on one of Avery's Kings teammates.

Jeff Gross, Getty Images

Fast-forward to Oct. 11, 2008, the night the Predators hosted the Stars in Nashville in what eventually would be a 3-1 win for the home team. At 8:36 of the first period, Avery got into a tangle with Nashville's Dan Hamhuis, among other extracurricular activities. Avery initially received five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct. As Avery skated to the penalty box, Griffith was waiting for him.

"He came up behind Dan Hamhuis and cross-checked him, and I went to the box," said Griffith. That's when she asked him, "aren't you going to turtle up?"

Griffith insisted to me that while she taunted Avery, she never used foul language. So what was Avery's response? According to Griffith, Avery said, "You're nothing but an old f**king c*nt, I wouldn't even c*m in your face." After which he sprayed her with his water bottle. It was following that incident that the refs assessed Avery a second game misconduct, and Griffith is pretty much convinced Avery's reaction to the confrontation with her was the reason.

"I'm an old hockey fan, I can accept foul language, that's not the problem. But this was beyond anything that I can even imagine," Griffith said.

On Tuesday night, I sent a note to the Dallas Stars asking them about the incident. They declined to comment, and referred me to the NHL. John Dellapina, the league's Director of Media Relations said that the league was aware of the incident, though a league representative has yet to talk to Griffith.

When I asked if the incident would be taken into account at today's hearing into Avery's conduct, Dellapina said, "In any matter such as this, the totality of the actions throughout the player's career is taken into account."

A call on Wednesday morning to Avery's agent, Pat Morris, was not returned. Avery's Los Angeles-based publicist declined to comment.

So what was Griffith's reaction when she saw the news about Avery's lewd comments in Calgary?

"My daughter sent the article. Very frankly, I wanted to get in touch with (NHL Commissioner Gary) Bettman and say you need to have a talk with this guy. He has major problems, this is beyond hockey and beyond hockey talk."

When I asked her what an appropriate punishment was, Griffith said, "I really don't know. I'm trying to distinguish between the hockey and the hockey stuff and his foul inconsiderate behavior, on the other hand. I cannot imagine Bettman wants someone like Avery to represent hockey in the US. I just can't imagine that."

When I mentioned that Avery had issued an apology, she was quick to cut in: "He doesn't mean that, it's a pattern of behavior with him." That conclusion would seem to be supported by a report from ESPN.com's Scott Burnside on Wednesday evening.

I also asked her about Avery's contention -- and the contention of many others -- that hockey sorely needs bad guys and Avery is simply playing a role. "I totally agree that hockey needs bad guys, we need enforcers ... He is not an enforcer," Griffith said. "He is a low class son of a bitch. What he's talking about has nothing to do with the game of hockey.

"This is a game, this is a sport and what he is showing is not gamesmanship, it's not sportsmanship, it's low-class behavior. It's like Pacman Jones ... You can just never change that behavior. That kind of personality has no place in hockey."

Then there was a more delicate question. I mentioned that a number of observers of the game were concerned that the speed with which the league acted against Avery seemed to indicate they were more concerned with the image of a player than the actual safety of players on the ice. In particular, I mentioned the rash of hits from behind and to the head we've seen again this season and how the league seems reluctant to do anything about.

Griffith agreed that she could understand that point of view and that she was concerned with the safety of the players too, and that the league might not be doing enough to prevent potentially career-ending injuries. She's a proponent of no-touch icing, and made sure to mention that, "boarding just makes me crazy."

"But," she added, "the Sean Averys and their attitude and their attitude toward women are unacceptable."

When I asked her what sort of players she was a fan of, she quickly mentioned Predators Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont, but took special pains to talk to me about Jordin Tootoo. "He's the same sort of instigator (as Avery). I cannot imagine him talking to a 60-year old woman the way that Sean Avery talked to me."

"He is low class, I cannot imagine my daughter bringing someone like that home. I can't imagine being his mother and being proud of that sort of behavior. Who raised him?"

Before saying goodbye, Griffith left me with one parting shot at Avery.

"If he's suspended indefinitely, I hope I can say that I was a part of that. There are rules of behavior and he crossed the line. I really do not like him."

One Fan's Allegations of a Horrifyingly Vulgar Confrontation With Sean Avery originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Russian Prosecutors Finger Club Officials and Arena Manager in Cherepanov Death

Eric McErlain — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:43:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, NHL Injuries, NHL Police Blotter, Russian Hockey

According to a flash report from the Associated Press, Russian prosecutors have fixed the blame for the untimely death of New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov. As you might recall, Cherepanov, who played for Avangard Omsk, died after returning to the bench during a game with Vityaz in October:

Prosecutors said in a statement posted on their Web site Tuesday that the manager of the Moscow region arena where Cherepanov was playing failed to coordinate proper emergency medical services before the game.

[...]

Investigators said Cherepanov apparently had chronic ischemia - a medical condition where not enough blood gets to the heart or other organs. They said that calls in question the competency of arena manager Yury Afonkin and the director of opposing club KHL club Vityaz. The club director, Mikhail Denisov, has already been fired.

A preliminary report released last month by the KHL absolved the on-site medical staff who were at the game for any blame in Cherepanov's death. As to whether or not this conclusion will result in any prosecutions, Russian authorities have yet to say. In any case, Cherepanov's death certainly has cast a pall over the league's operations, which Russian hockey officials hope one day may challenge the NHL for global supremacy in international ice hockey.

Russian Prosecutors Finger Club Officials and Arena Manager in Cherepanov Death originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shame Not a Word in David Frost's Vocabulary

Eric McErlain — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Gossip, NHL Police Blotter

While most folks on this planet would do their best to simply go away after being acquitted on charges of sexual exploitation of minors, former amateur hockey coach and NHL agent David Frost doesn't seem to know any better. Just hours after his acquittal on Friday, Frost announced to the world that he was starting his own Web site, hockeygodonline.com:

This blog/column will not always be the most favourable position on Hockey topics, it will how ever be the most up front and knowledgeable and to the point. We do not have the restrictions that a news paper has and will bring you the straight goods on all topics from a Hockey perspective. There is so much that goes on in Hockey that no one wants you to know, we will bring that to you in a no holds barred way.

Writing alongside Frost from his federal prison cell will be former NHLer Mike Danton, who, as we've noted before, is in the midst of serving a sentence for putting a contract out on Frost's life. So far, plenty of other bloggers like me are helping carry Frost's water, enough that he's already crowing about how the new site has drawn visitors from 66 different countries or territories -- which I guess means he's counting hits from Nunavit and the Yukon these days.

Somehow, I'm guessing the attention won't last. Then again, I've been wrong before.

Shame Not a Word in David Frost's Vocabulary originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Player Agent Frost Acquitted on All Charges in Exploitation Case

Eric McErlain — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Blues, Devils, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Videos

The curious and disturbing case of former player agent and junior hockey coach David Frost took another turn on Friday when he was found not guilty on four counts of sexual exploitation in an Ontario court. The case riveted many in the hockey community, as much of the testimony concerning the private lives of players in Canadian junior hockey contained a number of salacious details. The following comes from the CBC:

The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two former Hawks players he coached.

The young women who dated the players when they were 16 gave emotional testimony during the trial, contending Frost masterminded and participated in sexual threesomes with the Hawks players and their teenage girlfriends.

One of the women said Frost, age 29 at the time, persisted in having group sex with her and her boyfriend for a number of years.

The defence conceded that group sex is common among hockey players, but vehemently denied Frost ever took part in the sex acts.

And for those of you with long memories, this is the same David Frost who was once the player agent for ex-NHLer Mike Danton -- a man who is currently serving a sentence in federal prison for hiring a hitman to murder Frost. For more on that bizarre story, click here for another report from the CBC.

Ex-Player Agent Frost Acquitted on All Charges in Exploitation Case originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Resurrection of Rick Tocchet

Eric McErlain — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Lightning, NHL Gambling, NHL Police Blotter

Seemingly lost in all the shock over the quick hook given to Barry Melrose by the management team of the Tampa Bay Lightning has been another story, and that's the completion of a long comeback by former NHL star Rick Tocchet.

With Melrose again banished from the NHL coaching ranks -- and I think we can say with confidence that he won't ever be returning -- owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie had little choice but to turn to assistant head coach Tocchet, and hand him the keys to the sputtering Lightning for the rest of the season.

Yes, this is the same Rick Tocchet that the league banished for 162 games after his role in an admittedly small-time New Jersey gambling ring was discovered by the New Jersey State Police. The price for Tocchet was terribly high -- a leave of a full two calendar years from the sport that he had made his life in combined with two years of probation.

Here at FanHouse, two of our former colleagues, Greg Wyshynski and Jes Golbez, had it out over Tocchet's future, with Greg voting for a season-long suspension, while Golbez wrote that it was time for us to put aside the moralizing and let Tocchet get back to earning a living the only way he knew how.

For me, it's very hard not to sympathize with Tocchet. Had he not been a former NHL player and an assistant coach working in Phoenix under the greatest player in the history of the game in Wayne Gretzky, the Tocchet case would have gone down the memory hole. But when the New Jersey State Police discovered that an internal investigation of one of their own had uncovered links to Gretzky and his wife, there was no chance they weren't going to do all they could to milk the investigation and subsequent prosecution for all it was worth.

In the end, the NHL more or less decided that Tocchet had suffered enough, and officially reinstated him on February 7, 2008, the two-year anniversary of the start of his indefinite leave from the Coyotes. At the end of the season, he snagged the job with Melrose, and now the man who was staring down the barrel of what could have very well turned into a lifetime suspension now finds himself a member of the very small fraternity of NHL coaches.

So what's next for Tocchet? Yes, the Lightning are in fourth place in the Southeast and 14th place in the Eastern Conference. But with only four points separating them from 8th place in the Eastern Conference, the season is not lost.

So what's Tampa Bay's problem? Despite all the money that Tampa Bay spent in the offseason bolstering their forward corps, the team only has one line that's producing -- and that's the one that features holdovers Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Rookie Steve Stamkos, who plenty of folks -- including me -- had written in for the Calder, has looked overmatched, while free agent acquisition Ryan Malone hasn't produced numbers anywhere near what might justify his gaudy contract.

Is there a bright side? Despite the defense being a mess, with more players coming and going than you could possibly keep track of, goaltender Mike Smith has proved to be something of a revelation, posting a 2.47 GAA and a save percentage of .929.

I watched the Lightning play the Caps on Monday night, and it seemed pretty clear that a lot of the problem was focus and motivation. With backup goalie Olie Kolzig returning to Verizon Center as a member of the opposition for the first time in his career, his teammates more or less hung him out to dry in a first period where they fell behind 3-0. The Lighting did eventually get two goals from ageless warrior Gary Roberts, but it was far too late to matter as they fell, 4-2.

After that game, Melrose seemed to be out of answers, and it's clear management agreed with him. Now it's up to Tocchet to see if he can get this disparate set of parts working together and listening to him. And while I'm not sure even Scotty Bowman could rescue the situation in Tampa Bay, something tells me Tocchet is just happy to have the opportunity.

The Resurrection of Rick Tocchet originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video of the Day: Mair Fined $2,500 for Rushing Senators Locker Room

Eric McErlain — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:36:00 EST

Filed under: Sabres, Senators, NHL Fights, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Videos

The video here is pretty self-explanatory: after getting tossed from Monday night's game against the Senators along with agitator extraordinaire Chris Neil, Mair decided he wanted to discuss things up close and personal with his antagonist. That's when he headed for the Senators locker room, where he was intercepted by Jarkko Ruutu, Luke Richardson and a member of Ottawa's PR staff.

Today the word came down from NHL HQ: Mair would have to cough up $2,500 for his shenanigans.

Now, if you go by Sean Avery's thinking, Mair is probably due something of a bonus, as confrontations like this -- straight out of the WWE playbook -- gets the blood boiling. Thanks to Stu Hackel for the pointer.

Video of the Day: Mair Fined $2,500 for Rushing Senators Locker Room originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge Rejects Samueli Plea Agreement

Eric McErlain — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: Ducks, NHL Police Blotter

As late as just a couple of hours ago, it appeared that the legal troubles of Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli were over. It was a couple of months ago that Samueli had worked out a plea agreement with Federal prosecutors where he would serve five years probation and pay over $12 million in fines for admitting to lying to SEC investigators who were probing his involvement in backdating stock options at Broadcom, a company he co-founded. All that was needed was for the judge to sign off on the agreement, and Samueli's troubles would be behind him.

But the judge isn't cooperating. Here's what U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney wrote in the decision that he handed down today (PDF):

While the USAO and Dr. Samueli have stipulated to what they believe is the appropriate sentence in this case, the Court has an independent obligation to ensure that the stipulated sentence is fair, appropriate and in the interest of justice. Regrettably, the parties' proposed sentence falls short of this standard. The government has publicly levied very serious allegations of securities fraud against Dr. Samueli that, if true, warrant a significant prison sentence.

Ouch. But wait, there's more, and it gets worse.

The grand jury has returned a criminal indictment of Dr. Nicholas and Mr. Ruehle that names Dr. Samueli (referred to as "H.S.") as an unindicted co-conspirator in Defendants Nicholas and Ruehle's scheme to fraudulently conceal $2.2 billion in Broadcom compensation expenses. If there is any truth to these allegations, a probationary sentence does not adequately reflect or account for the seriousness of the underlying misconduct alleged against Dr. Samueli.

[...]

[A]ccepting this plea agreement will erode the public's trust in the fundamental fairness of our justice system. The public expects the Court to treat all defendants equally, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, class or wealth. The $12 million payment contained in this plea agreement suggests that Dr. Samueli's wealth and popularity will allow him to avoid the consequences of his alleged misconduct at Broadcom. The Court cannot accept a plea agreement that gives the impression justice is for sale.

So what's next? The judge has given Samueli's lawyers and the government until September 29 to come up with a new plea agreement, one that would presumably include the jail time that the judge is demanding. It's at that point that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will have a problem on his hands -- what to do with a franchise that suddenly finds its owner behind bars?

Recall that Samueli has already been indefinitely suspended by the league, and that Ducks chief executive and alternate governor Michael Schulman is in day-to-day control of the franchise, while Samueli's wife, Susan, has agreed to abide by the league's decision and not interfere in the team's operations. Back when I first looked at the situation a few months ago, I wrote that I thought at least a 1-year suspension for Samueli and his wife was probably fair in light of the terms of the plea agreement. But now, with jail time almost a certainty, everything is back up in the air.

The lawyers at NHL HQ in New York are going to be earning plenty of overtime between now and September 29. Stay tuned.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This post supercedes an item that was published earlier today that reported the terms of Samueli's plea agreement as if the judge had already approved them -- a supposition that was obviously in error.

Judge Rejects Samueli Plea Agreement originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Sugden: Blacklisted?

Jes Golbez — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, NHL General, NHL Fights, NHL Police Blotter

Brandon "Sugar" Sugden is hardly a household name among NHL fans, but he is a notorious figure in hockey circles for a lifetime ban he received, back in 2000, from the ECHL for throwing a stick at a female fan in the stands.

After official retiring from the game during the 06-07 season, Sugden got an invite from the New York Islanders to attend training camp and beat people up while pretending to play hockey. Unfortunately for Sugden, there is a rule stating that he has to wait a year before unretiring, and 4 NHL GM's weren't willing to waive it for his case. Call it a form of "blacklisting", if you will.

Now, the Isles have made many questionable moves in my lifetime, and I wonder why the hell they'd want to touch Sugden with a 10-foot pole. Not only does he lack any semblance of NHL hockey skills, but he has a row of baggage a mile long.

Oh, but there is a sob story involved, believe you me.

A sad aspect of this story is the fact Sugden's father, Travis, reportedly has cancer and only months to live. According to Lindsay Kramer, who covers the Crunch for Syracuse.com and has been following the story, part of the younger Sugden's desire to reach the NHL so his father could see him play in the bigs before he passes on.

While I could feel some sympathy for Sugden for facing the imminent death of his father, that doesn't excuse him or give him any special rights to play in the NHL. If I were an NHL GM from another team, I don't think I'd want this guy in the league. Let's face it, he's a complete liability, and his one and only "skill" involves hurting other players.

If you do feel that Sugden should be re-instated, you could wander over to the official Sugden website, and sign the petition. From the sounds of it, Brandon will fight this like he has any opponent on the ice.

Brandon Sugden: Blacklisted? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wang's Ex-Partner Points a Finger in Accounting Scandal

Eric McErlain — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, NHL Police Blotter

You could be excused these days if it seems to take something of a scorecard to determine just how many NHL owners might be in trouble with the law. Now it's time for New York Islanders owner Charles Wang to reluctantly step into the spotlight.

Though many have forgotten, Wang didn't buy the Islanders by himself in 2000. Rather, he did it with Sanjay Kumar, the protege that succeeded him as CEO of Computer Associates (CA) that same year. But the happy times didn't last.

In 2004, Kumar was forced to resign due to an accounting scandal, and just two years later agreed to plead guilty to a variety of charges including securities fraud and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and agreed to pay more than $225 million in restitution, selling his share in the Islanders and the AFL's New York Dragons to Wang.

At the heart of the charges was a very simple thing to understand: The government accused Kumar of booking revenue after the close of a quarter and backdating it in order to make sure the company hit its earnings projection and kept Wall Street happy. But now Newsday is reporting that Kumar, only two years into his sentence, is saying that Wang and a number of CA's board members, including former U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.), knew about the shoddy and deceptive accounting practices at the company as far back as 1987 -- 13 years before Kumar became CEO and the same year Kumar joined the company when CA bought out his then employer, UCCEL . An affadavit containing Kumar's charges has been submitted as evidence in a shareholder suit against CA being spearheaded by CA shareholder and Texas billionaire Sam Wyly.

But will the charges stick? One white collar attorney that Newsday interviewed says no, and that in the absence of any new evidence corroborating the charges, it's unlikely that Wang would be prosecuted. Then, there's always the statement that Kumar gave to the judge when he was sentenced back in 2006: "I stand before your honor today to take full responsibility for my actions. I know that I was wrong and there's no excuse for my conduct."

Wang's Ex-Partner Points a Finger in Accounting Scandal originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Bell Pays his Penance

Jes Golbez — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Maple Leafs, Sharks, NHL General, NHL Police Blotter

Late last summer, we brought you the story of Leafs (and ex-Sharks) winger Mark Bell, the young man who was foolish enough to drive around town after a long night of quaffing beers at the bar.

As you might expect with a drunk driver, Bell roared around Silicon Valley at very high speed, rear-ended an unsuspecting sap and causing serious upper body injuries. Thanks to his semi-celebrity status, Bell managed to avoid serious jail time and settled his case out-of-court.

Still, Bell had to pay some price and learn his lesson. In addition to the token NHL suspension, Bell had to perform 440 hours of community service (eight hours a day, five days a week for 11 weeks) of "professional landscaping".

"I don't consider myself an alcoholic and I never will consider myself an alcoholic. But I got in trouble because of alcohol and, to me, that's a problem. I had to change things in my life so I changed them," he said.

"I was ashamed of what I did when it first happened. And embarrassed, all the emotions that came along with it. But you know what? It happened. I made a mistake. At the same time, I've been through a lot and I've overcome a lot. I'm actually very proud of myself for what I've overcome."

Perhaps this humbling experience of forced manual labor really did give Bell enough time to reflect on what he did and where he was going in life. Bell was fortunate that he didn't cause the death of the victim, and now has the opportunity to get his hockey career back on track. Many other drunk drivers aren't quite so fortunate.

As for Bell's hockey career, it's very hard to project just how he'll do and how much he'll play. For all of his career, Bell has not put up the offensive numbers that many expects were expecting, and his last two seasons in the NHL were among his worst. I think 30+ points would be a pleasant surprise.

Mark Bell Pays his Penance originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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