Former NHL Player Grabovski Charged in Youth Hockey Assault

Former NHL player Mikhail Grabovski faces an assault charge after an altercation with a rival coach following a youth hockey playoff game in Markham, Ontario, on March 14.

The incident occurred at the Markham Village Community Centre during an Ontario Minor Hockey Association matchup between Grabovski's under-15 Markham Waxers team and the York Simcoe Express. Police responded to reports of an assault around 10:50 p.m., arresting a male suspect and transporting the victim, identified as Express head coach Warren Cooper, to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Court records indicate Grabovski, 42, was charged with assault on March 30 and is scheduled to appear in Newmarket court on June 12. As a condition of his release, Grabovski is prohibited from contacting Cooper or visiting locations where Cooper is known to be.

The game itself was marked by intense play and numerous infractions. The Express secured a 1-10 victory in a contest that saw referees issue 61 minutes in penalties, primarily for boarding, roughing, and head contact. Tensions escalated in the third period, including a five-minute major for head contact against a Waxers player and a 10-minute misconduct...