Since the early 1900s, violence has been synonymous with ice hockey. Criminal investigations are sometimes necessary and sometimes charges are pressed.
Here is a rundown of some incidents that resulted in criminal charges:
* 1905 - Alcide Laurin was clubbed to death on the ice by Allan Loney who was found not guilty after he claimed self-defense.
* 1907 - Alf Smith, Charles Spittal and Harry Smith were charged with assault after beating opposing players with their sticks.
* 1907 - Charles Masson was found not guilty because their was no way to tell which blow sustained in a brawl killed Owen McCourt.
* 1922 - Sprague Cleghorn was arrested after injuring three other players.
* 1969 - Ted Green and Wayne Maki were acquitted after they engaged in a brawl.
* 1975 - Dan Maloney was acquitted for attacking Brian Glennie from behind.
* 1975 - After a trial ending with a hung jury, aggravated assault charges against Dave Forbes for a fight with Henry Bouch were dropped.
* 1976 - Mel Bridgman was acquitted and Joe Watson, Daon Saleski and Bob Kelly were found guilty for assault after using their sticks as weapons during playoffs.
* 1977 - Dave Williams was acquitted on assault charges for hitting Dennis Owchar with his stick.
* 1982 - Jimmy Mann received a suspended sentence and paid a fine of $500 after breaking Paul Gardner’s jaw.
* 1988 - Convicted of assault for hitting Luke Richardson with his stick, Dino Ciccarelli spent one day in jail and paid $1000.
* 1998 - Jesse Boulerice was suspended from playoffs and charged with assault for swinging his stick at Andrew Lang.
* 2000 - Marty McSorley was given an eighteen-month conditional discharge and convicted of assault after hitting Donald Brashear in the head with his stick.
* 2004 - Todd Bertuzzi pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge for the assault of Steve Moore.