Former NHL forward Mikhail Grabovski has been charged with assault following an alleged altercation at a minor hockey game in Markham, Ont., court records confirm.
The charge was sworn on March 30, with Grabovski's first court appearance scheduled for June 12 at a Newmarket, Ont., courthouse. York Regional Police responded to a Markham community centre on March 14 after receiving a report of an assault. The victim was transported to hospital with minor injuries.
Court documents allege Grabovski assaulted Warren Cooper. According to reporting by the Toronto Star, the incident stems from an alleged confrontation between coaches following an under-15 playoff game involving the Markham Waxers and the York-Simcoe Express. Team websites list Grabovski as head coach of the Waxers and Cooper as head coach of the Express.
Release Conditions in Place
As a condition of his release, Grabovski is prohibited from contacting Cooper or attending any location where Cooper is known to be present.
A Long NHL Career
Grabovski, 42, is best remembered by hockey fans for his five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played 340 regular-season games between 2008 and 2013. Over a 534-game NHL career, the Belarusian-born forward also suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders. He last played in 2016 and officially retired in 2019.
Previous Legal History
This is not the first time Grabovski has faced legal action. In September 2010, a civil suit was filed in B.C. Supreme Court alleging he assaulted a couple during a confrontation in downtown Vancouver during the Winter Olympics. Grabovski had been named to Belarus's Olympic roster that year but did not compete due to injury. The civil case was dismissed by consent in March 2018, before reaching trial.
This article is based on reporting originally published by The Globe and Mail. Source: The Globe and Mail.