Defending champions the Los Angeles Kings were fined US$100,000 by the National Hockey League for allowing defenseman Slava Voynov to skate with the team while serving an indefinite suspension.
Voynov’s participation in practice yesterday violated the terms of his ban that followed a domestic violence arrest in October, the NHL said in an e-mailed statement.
The 24-year-old Russian was charged on Nov. 20 over the incident that injured his wife.
“This was clearly a mistake on our part and we accept full responsibility,” the Kings said in a statement posted on the team’s Web site. “It is incumbent upon us to be more vigilant in managing this situation to ensure that Slava’s allowable training activities always remain separate from the team.”
Voynov was suspended indefinitely on Oct. 20, pending a league investigation into his arrest. The terms of the suspension say that Voynov can use club facilities and work with team personnel, but can not participate in any team-related functions.
When it announced Voynov’s suspension, the NHL cited a section of its collective bargaining agreement that says a player involved in a criminal investigation can be suspended pending a formal league review when a failure to issue discipline “would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the league.”
Voynov is accused of attacking his wife during an Oct. 19 fight at their home in Redondo Beach, California, according to a Nov. 20 statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
She suffered injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck that required medical attention at a local hospital, according to the statement.
Voynov faces one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury, according to the district attorney’s statement. Voynov two days ago entered a not guilty plea, his lawyer, Craig Renetzky, said on Tuesday.
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