Last updated Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 12:29PM
According to an
original publication in Czech paper Nova Sport, Winnipeg Jets big money goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has made a colossal error in judgment.
As per the original translated story -- further corroborated by Finnish news editor Matias Strozyk (and later carried by multiple news entities in Winnipeg) -- Pavelec got behind the wheel of his BMW M6 on Saturday, May 26, 2012 with a blood alcohol level of 0.20 and subsequently crashed into a stopped car, causing $5,000.00 USD in damages.
Strozyk further states that the court hearing adjourned today with Pavelec being sentenced to six months of conditional probation and a twenty month driving ban.
Kevin Cheveldayoff has issued this statement on behalf of the team (courtesy of
The Illegal Curve):
"
At this time True North Sports & Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club are aware of various, yet still inconsistent, internet reports pertaining to Ondrej Pavelec. We, as an organization, are attempting to gather more information and until such time as we are comfortable and have a full understanding of the situation, we will not be issuing any further comment."
In other words, the Jets organization had little to no idea about the DUI when they signed him to his newly minted 5 year, $19.5MM deal.
Pavelec's "manager", Josef Machala also released the following statement through TV Nova in the Czech Republic:
"
It was not Ondrej's fault. And anyway, why should I comment on it?"
We at Arctic Ice Hockey will continue to diligently follow this story and provide more information once it emerges.
