Ben Eager arrested after Toronto Bar Fight

[Steve Bull]

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...onto-bar-fight

Edmonton Oilers left wing Ben Eager is facing assault charges after a brawl at a Toronto pub.

Toronto police Staff Sgt. Rick Gibillini confirmed the 28-year-old Ottawa native and his brother Michael had been arrested and charged with assault after an “altercation” at the Quail & Firkin on Yonge St. in Rosedale.

[blackngold]

I completely forgot Ben Eager existed. It's crazy how much into obscurity he's faded after getting his dick sucked by Flyers fans back in the day in every single thread on this website.

[Philly Fan 27]

Originally Posted by blackngold

I completely forgot Ben Eager existed. It's crazy how much into obscurity he's faded after getting his dick sucked by Flyers fans back in the day in every single thread on this website.

thats what happens when you get your ass kicked by a 40 year old.

[OilersHockey]

This is actually quite a big deal.

He has not just been charged with "assault", but what I'm hearing is aggravated assault AND assault with a weapon.

Allegedly it was a chair (the weapon) and the bouncer was taken by ambulance to hospital. The staff were so tramatized after the incident (it wasn't "that kind" of bar and certainly is not normal there) they actually closed for the night and sent the staff home.

Eager's brother was also charged.

This could be the end of Mr. Eager's professional career. I wouldn't care - hopefully then the Oilers would carry a #2 who would actually fight for a teammate every now and then.

Spot picker extraordinaire.

[Shoryuken]

Originally Posted by OilersHockey

This is actually quite a big deal.

He has not just been charged with "assault", but what I'm hearing is aggravated assault AND assault with a weapon.

Allegedly it was a chair (the weapon) and the bouncer was taken by ambulance to hospital. The staff were so tramatized after the incident (it wasn't "that kind" of bar and certainly is not normal there) they actually closed for the night and sent the staff home.

Not sure of Canadian law, but that sounds like it could attract a stretch in jail?

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by OilersHockey

This could be the end of Mr. Eager's professional career. I wouldn't care - hopefully then the Oilers would carry a #2 who would actually fight for a teammate every now and then.

if billy tibbetts can make it in the nhl after his incident and jail time, someone like eager will still find a job. plus there is no guarantee that he's gonna even get a jail sentence either. their called plea bargains for a reason....

[antonio106]

Originally Posted by Shoryuken

Not sure of Canadian law, but that sounds like it could attract a stretch in jail?

IANAL (yet), but yeah, it could have serious implications for Eager. It can either be a felony or misdemeanor (to use your British terminology) depending on the severity, so if he tries to keep this real hush hush, he could get off with a few months, community service, a fine, etc. Call me cynical, but I think an hockey player in Canada has to do really over the top **** to find himself in jail. Like, Mike Danton bad.

Still, what a piece of ****.

[OilersHockey]

Originally Posted by chilly666

if billy tibbetts can make it in the nhl after his incident and jail time, someone like eager will still find a job. plus there is no guarantee that he's gonna even get a jail sentence either. their called plea bargains for a reason....

This is going to come down to one thing and one thing only - will the crown let him plead down to simple assault... if so, he gets probation.

If they force him to contest aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, I believe that would be enough to keep him out of the US. Period.

What doesn't look good for Mr. Eager is that apparently the entire incident is on security footage - it's going to be pretty hard to get out of IMO.

[antonio106]

Originally Posted by OilersHockey

This is going to come down to one thing and one thing only - will the crown let him plead down to simple assault... if so, he gets probation.

If they force him to contest aggravated assault and assault with a weapon, I believe that would be enough to keep him out of the US. Period.

What doesn't look good for Mr. Eager is that apparently the entire incident is on security footage - it's going to be pretty hard to get out of IMO.

http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/index.ph...articleid=1229

Sums up some of the challenges. If they try and proceed as a summary conviction (which they almost certainly would, unless they're trying to make an example of him), he can't get more than six months in jail, and it's very unlikely he'll be held up at the border.

I genuinely believe him being a hockey player is going to help him out. Factors against him would (likely) be how badly the other guy was hurt, the provocation, damaged caused, etc. etc.

[OilersHockey]

Originally Posted by antonio106

http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/index.ph...articleid=1229

Sums up some of the challenges. If they try and proceed as a summary conviction (which they almost certainly would, unless they're trying to make an example of him), he can't get more than six months in jail, and it's very unlikely he'll be held up at the border.

I genuinely believe him being a hockey player is going to help him out. Factors against him would (likely) be how badly the other guy was hurt, the provocation, damaged caused, etc. etc.

It all depends on their consideration of the crime in light of moral turpitude... see the first reference (assault, which is a lesser offense is actually listed as a possibility)...

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frv...ials_1361.html

Then click on criminal and related ineligibilities - it's listed in the first section.

Either way, aggravated assault AND assault with a weapon convictions significantly increase his risk of denial over a simple assault conviction. Bigtime.

You are correct in that it depends on bad the crown wants to make an example of him. If he can manage to plead out to simple assault he'll be fine.

[Stevens Lindros]

Did Eager get his ass kicked?

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by chilly666

if billy tibbetts can make it in the nhl after his incident and jail time, someone like eager will still find a job. plus there is no guarantee that he's gonna even get a jail sentence either. their called plea bargains for a reason....

Part of Tibbets' attraction to teams was that he was a real loose cannon, Eager's just an asshole who takes bad penalties but could be easily kept in line by a nuclear deterrent. Tibbets was less predictable.

[Flyer_Frank]

Were you at the Quail & Firkin on Friday night or early Saturday morning? Did you see the fight?

The Quail & Firkin???? Doesn't exactly sound like a punch palace to me. Eager's an idiot, nothing new here. I still can't believe that scrub beat us with a light's out shot in the finals. It might be the only decent play he's ever made on the ice.

[OilersHockey]

Originally Posted by Flyer_Frank

The Quail & Firkin???? Doesn't exactly sound like a punch palace to me. Eager's an idiot, nothing new here. I still can't believe that scrub beat us with a light's out shot in the finals. It might be the only decent play he's ever made on the ice.

It's a pub for young professionals. That's what I mean about this not even being "that kind of place"

[Baronking]

Originally Posted by OilersHockey

It's a pub for young professionals. That's what I mean about this not even being "that kind of place"

But it had a bouncer? Weird.