SAGUENAY, Quebec — The son of former Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy pleaded guilty to assault Wednesday for an on-ice beating that sparked a nationwide debate in Canada about violence in hockey.
In addition to the guilty plea, Jonathan Roy offered a $5,000 check to charity. A judge granted Roy absolute discharge, meaning the former goalie will have no criminal record. It also allows the budding singer to pursue a musical career in the United States.
Quebec court Judge Valmont Beaulieu handed down his sentence a few hours after the 20-year-old Roy caught people off-guard by pleading guilty as his two-day trial was set to begin.
Hall of Famer Patrick Roy was coaching behind the bench when his son, a goalie with the Quebec Remparts, skated across the rink during a junior game in March 2008 to pummel an opposing goalie.
“I assume total responsibility for what I did,” Roy told the court. “I lacked an enormous amount of judgment and I regret it. What I did had nothing to do with hockey. I stepped over the line. . . . My parents have been deeply affected, especially my mother. I don’t think she’s recovered yet.”
Mercury forces decisive Game 5
INDIANAPOLIS — Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever 90-77 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals to avoid elimination.
Penny Taylor added 17 points for the Mercury, while Diana Taurasi and Tangela Smith each added 16 to even the series 2-2 and force Game 5 on Friday in Phoenix.
Woods, Stricker tee off against teenager
SAN FRANCISCO — Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker will be partners in today’s opening session of the Presidents Cup and will face Ryo Ishikawa, the 18-year-old Japanese sensation who generates the kind of buzz in Japan that Woods gets around the world, and Geoff Ogilvy. Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim, a strong partnership at the Ryder Cup, will lead off the foursomes matches against Mike Weir and Tim Clark.
Footnotes.
Jeff Cunningham scored his MLS-leading 17th goal in the 82nd minute to help FC Dallas remain in MLS playoff contention with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in Santa Clara, Calif.
• The NHL fined the Toronto Maple Leafs an undisclosed amount after ruling coach Ron Wilson was tampering when he expressed interest in Vancouver Canucks forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin before they reached free agency.
• NASCAR said it will attempt to halt its sinking television ratings through consistent, earlier start times that appeal to longtime race fans beginning next season.
• Nelson Piquet Jr. is getting back on the track for the first time since his involvement in the Formula One crash scandal, test driving for NASCAR’s truck series next week.
• Robert Kubica will drive for Formula One team Renault from 2010, replacing Ferrari-bound Fernando Alonso and partner Romain Grosjean.
• UCLA basketball forward James Keefe, who averaged three points last season, will miss four to six weeks after injuring his left shoulder.
