S1556 BC-NHL-Malarchuk-Shootin 956 10-10 0357

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/10/2008 (6562 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RENO, Nev. — An investigation into the shooting of former NHL goalie Clint Malarchuk concluded it was “accidental under suspicious circumstances.”

Douglas County sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Jim Halsey said Friday that the probe into the Tuesday shooting at Malarchuk’s Fish Springs home about 60 miles south of Reno was closed unless new evidence surfaces.

The 47-year-old Malarchuk, now a goalie coach for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, was taken to a Reno hospital after being shot in the chin. He has since been released.

Malarchuk and his wife, Joan, insist the shooting was accidental. The couple said Malarchuk had been shooting rabbits and the .22-calibre rifle discharged after he placed the butt on the ground between his legs.

Halsey said the couple had an argument, and it’s unlikely the rifle would have discharged from being set down.

“Because of the circumstances, it could be attempted suicide, but he and his wife are adamant that it was an accident. So we’re classifying it as accidental under suspicious circumstances,” Halsey told The Associated Press. “Unless we have some contrary evidence, the investigation is closed.”

Deputies said Malarchuk was unco-operative with paramedics and initially refused medical treatment after the shooting.

Joan Malarchuk told deputies that her husband had been drinking and he was not supposed to consume alcohol while taking his prescription medication.

Malarchuk, best known for having his jugular vein slashed by a skate in a 1989 game with Buffalo, was arrested in October 2007 on suspicion of disorderly conduct and obstructing and resisting a public officer after being asked to leave a Gardnerville bar south of Reno.

“Our concern is with Clint and his well being,” the Blue Jackets said Thursday. “We are optimistic that he will have a full recovery very soon.”

Danton still in U.S. jail

OTTAWA — Mike Danton wants to come home, but the Tory government won’t let him.

The young NHLer serving time in a U.S. prison for plotting to kill his agent is calling on the Harper government to sign off on a prison transfer that would have him return to Canada.

“I feel like a piece of meat that my own government doesn’t care about,” Danton said in his first interview since the St. Louis Blues forward was sentenced in 2004 to seven years in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill his agent Dave Frost.

“I want the prime minister to know that one of his Canadians is in prison in America, and it’s not America holding up the transfer, it’s his government.”

The Ottawa Citizen has learned that Anne McLellan, the former public safety minister under the Liberal government, approved Danton’s transfer in June 2005 on the condition that U.S. authorities agreed.

The U.S. Department of Justice approved the Danton transfer in May 2008, but Stockwell Day — the Tory minister who assumed the public safety portfolio — has not, according to the jailed hockey player, Canadian prison officials and American authorities.

Tortorella no fan of Spezza

MAYBE Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray didn’t interview former Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella for the club’s vacant head coaching job last summer because he knew he wouldn’t get along with star centre Jason Spezza.

Tortorella, now a commentator for TSN, didn’t hold back in criticizing Spezza for everything from turnovers to not being a team player and for appearing cocky in his interviews.

“I watch his interviews and it’s like he has three Stanley Cup rings already,” Tortorella said. “You haven’t won squat. Play. Learn how to be a complete player and that team will go.”

Spezza received some heat for giving away the puck to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy in overtime during the season opener last Saturday in Stockholm. Kennedy then scored on a sharp-angle shot.

Edler gets extension

THE Vancouver Canucks on Friday signed defenceman Alex Edler to a four-year contract extension through the 2012-13 NHL season.

Edler’s four-year deal is worth US$13-million US. Edler, who is making $550,000 this season, will earn $3.25 million a year starting next season.

He is entering his third campaign with the Canucks.

“Alex is a gifted puck-moving defenceman who sees the ice extremely well for such a young player,” said Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. “He has made great strides in his career and we look forward to further growth and development in his game.”

— From the news services