No record for a hockey player who has knocked out an opponent

Photo courtesy, Geneviève Quessy

Geneviève Quessy

Wednesday, February 21, 2018 12:24

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Wednesday, February 21, 2018 12:24

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JOLIETTE | The ex-hockey player of Blizzard responsible for the concussion and the double fracture of the jaw of an opponent will not have a criminal record.

Philippe Mailhot, ex-hockey player of Blizzard de Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon, will benefit from a conditional discharge, ruled the judge Bruno Leclerc. Mailhot, however, is sentenced to three years probation and 240 hours of community work, in addition to having to pay 4000 $ to a charity.

During a game between their respective teams, march 14, 2015, the hockey player 39-year-old violently assaulted the defender Louis-Étienne Leblanc, age 30, of the BigFoot of Saint-Léonard-d’aston.

A few minutes earlier, in the locker room, players of the Blizzard had discussed a strategy designed to provoke a fight general. Their plan was to tackle some of the key players in the BigFoot, including the victim, Louis-Étienne Leblanc.

Then that Leblanc was about to leave the rink to join the bench of the players, Philippe Mailhot attacked him and hit him in the head multiple times, so much so that his victim suffered a double fracture of the jaw and a concussion.

“Blows of such violence, carried out by a former national champion of boxing, could have serious consequences,” observed the judge, lamenting the character sneaky and premeditated gesture.

First accused of aggravated assault, Philippe Mailhot pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault causing bodily harm. His genuine remorse and the fact that he recognizes the severity and disproportionality of its actions have satisfied the court that he presents no risk of recidivism.

Although the tribunal wishes to make it clear “that such violence is unacceptable,” the judge found that a criminal record would have too severe an impact on the lives of the accused.

“The accused does not have to pay for the stupidity of a league and of the spectators who ask for the violence to their players. He already lives in shame of his actions and will live out the rest of his life with the memory [to have] ruined the life of another person.”

Another player from the Blizzard, Kevin Talbot, had pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with a weapon for hitting Louis-Étienne Leblanc with his hockey stick during the same fight. He had gotten in 2016, a conditional discharge with a probation of two years and the obligation to pay 2000 $ to the assistance Centre for victims of crime.