WINDSOR, Ont. -- Windsor Spitfire Zack Kassian no
longer has to worry about a criminal record thwarting his hockey career —
assault charges against him were dropped in court Wednesday.
The
charge, related to bar fight in downtown Windsor, was withdrawn by the
Crown through a negotiated deal, referred to in the courts as
“diversion.”
As part of the deal, Kassian had to perform 25 hours
of community service, make a $500 donation to charity and pay for the
dental work of the man he punched, said his lawyer, Patrick Ducharme.
Windsor
police arrested the Spitfire forward just before 2 a.m. on May 30 at
The Beach Sports Bar and Grill on Ouellette Avenue. Kassian, 19, didn’t
have to spend any time in jail, being released the same day on a promise
to appear in court.
Ducharme said a criminal record would have
had “serious” implications on Kassian’s career. He was the Buffalo
Sabres’ first-round draft pick and a criminal record would have made it
difficult for the LaSalle native to cross the border.
“There’s no
question that the Buffalo team wanted him record-free,” said Ducharme,
in a telephone interview from an out-of-town trial.
A record would also hamper his OHL career — Windsor routinely plays road games in three U.S. cities.
Kassian
did not appear in court Wednesday when his charges were withdrawn. The
case, handled before a justice of the peace, was dealt with in about one
minute.
© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star