The Los Angeles Kings were fined $100,000 by the National Hockey League Tuesday for allowing suspended defenseman Slava Voynov, who is facing a domestic violence charge, to skate with the team.
Voynov, 24, “skated with teammates today during a club practice,” according to the NHL. “Such activity is in direct contravention of the terms of the suspension leveled Oct. 20, which permit Mr. Voynov to use club facilities and work with team personnel but prohibit his participation in any team-related functions or activities.”
Voynov pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony domestic violence charge stemming from his arrest at a Torrance hospital where his wife was treated. He is charged with a single count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury.
Voynov was immediately suspended indefinitely with pay by the NHL following his Oct. 20 arrest.
The Kings issued a statement saying allowing Voynov to skate with the team was “clearly a mistake on our part and we accept full responsibility.”
“It is incumbent upon us to be more vigilant in managing this situation to ensure that Slava’s allowable training activities always remain separate from the team,” according to the Kings.
Prosecutors said Voynov’s wife suffered injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck during an Oct. 19 fight with her husband.
Voynov has denied any wrongdoing, with his attorney saying the defenseman “maintains his innocence.”
— City News Service