|
Cops snare Panther
Bouwmeetser faces DWI charge
By
The Edmonton Sun
|
  
|
Edmonton NHL hockey star Jay Bouwmeester, a defenceman with the Florida Panthers, is facing drunk-driving charges in his hometown.
Bouwmeester, 22, was arrested Aug. 12 near Whyte Avenue, a popular nightclub area which gained nationwide notoriety when drunken revellers rioted there during last spring's Stanley Cup run by the Edmonton Oilers.
Bouwmeester was charged with impaired driving and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of more than .08. His first court date was yesterday.
The former Medicine Hat Tigers junior star, who was chosen third overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and was awarded a two-year, $4.35-million US contract by a salary arbitrator in July, did not personally show up in court.
An agent for prominent defence lawyer Alex Pringle appeared on Bouwmeester's behalf and reserved his plea until Oct. 4 in order to get disclosure from the Crown.
City police spokesman Lisa Lammi said yesterday that Bouwmeester was nabbed about 4 a.m. on 104 Street and 79 Avenue by an off-duty police officer who "observed his vehicle swerving."
Bouwmeester, who was in Edmonton earlier this month participating in a conditioning camp, had been bandied about as a possible acquisition for the Oilers following Chris Pronger's trade request.
The smooth-skating, six-foot-four, 210-pound blue-liner finished fifth in team scoring last season with five goals and 41 assists. He was one of three Panthers to play in all 82 games and led the team in ice time, averaging over 25 minutes per game.
When asked yesterday about the drunk-driving charges, neither Bouwmeester's mother Gena nor his agent, Edmonton lawyer Bryan Baltimore, would comment.
