Dannick Lessard shot while working at bar

[blackngold]

News article in French

Google translated:

MIRABEL - Dannick Lessard, a hockey player known for his role as a fighter in the North American League, was shot in the closing striptease club where he worked early Sunday in Mirabel, Laurentides.

The shots were fired after 3h at Le Garage, located on the boulevard Curé-Labelle.

"The individual was transported to hospital where he remains in stable condition. It does not fear for his life, "advised Daniel Thibaudeau, spokesman for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).

33 years old, Dannick Lessard plays with the RiverKings Cornwall since the beginning of the season.

The announcement was made at the beginning of a match between Team Cornwall Caron et Guay de Trois-Rivières, in the late afternoon on Sunday.

The message specified that Dannick Lessard could not be present at the hockey game because of injuries he sustained while working in a bar in Mirabel.

Initially, the Mirabel Police investigating this story, but the case was transferred to the SQ in the early morning.

The police were not able to confirm whether there is a link between Dannick Lessard and the suspect, and they were known to police.

A bar linked to Hells Angels

In 2011, the bar still belonged to Eric Grenier, a supporter of the Hells Angels, according to sources of the Journal de Montreal.

In addition to being the owner of the establishment, the businessman also runs the adult magazine Erotic Quebec.

He participated in 2010, docu-reality show produced by Anne-Marie Losique entitled The bum, beautiful and raw.

Shots were also fired in the parking lot of The Garage bar in January 2011.

The River Kings hung his jersey up behind the bench for their game tonight:


Link to Cornwall River Kings' facebook group, for more info:
Link

[blackngold]

English news report from Cornwall's paper:

"Prayers” from Cornwall River Kings are going to one of their players, Dannick Lessard, who was shot — apparently “four times” — early Sunday morning.

“He was still in surgery,” said River Kings’ head coach Al Wagar on Sunday evening, just minutes after the team’s game in Trois-Rivieres against the Caron et Guay.

“(Lessard) is well liked, everyone likes him...he’s a good guy in the (dressing) room,” Wagar said.

The coach said he was informed that Lessard, 33, was shot in four places.

Wagar said the player’s girlfriend was expecting a child.

“The individual has been transported to (a) hospital, where he now rests in a stable condition,” said Surete du Quebec spokesperson Daniel Thibaudeau in a French statement.

“There is no fear for his life.”

Surete du Quebec Sgt. Christine Coulombe said a man was shot outside the bar le Garage in Mirabel around 4 a.m.

“As of now we have officers on the scene, who are meeting a lot of people (for interviews),” said Coulombe, who said no one has yet to be charged.

According to Wagar, Lessard was a manager at the Garage, which features exotic dancers.

The River Kings made an address to the Trois-Rivieres crowd before their game, announcing Lessard’s dire circumstances.

The address also noted that hockey has to “take a back seat to the hard realities of life.”

The team placed Lessard’s jersey behind the bench for the game.

“It was a tough game,” Wagar said.

“We’ll bounce back, the team’s got a lot of character.”

LINK

[blackngold]

Latest news (10/29/12)

LINK

River Kings enforcer Dannick Lessard remained in a medically-induced coma Monday after being shot, reportedly four times, early Sunday morning.

Lessard was rushed to hospital after a shooting outside the bar Le Garage in Mirabel, Que. at approximately 4 a.m.

Lessard was in surgery Sunday, and Cornwall River Kings coach Al Wagar said Monday he is in a coma “just so they could keep him quiet” while healing. Wagar also said doctors are focused on reconstructing Lessard’s arm.

“He’s not out of the woods yet,” said Wagar.

Lessard, 33, has played in the Ligue nord-americane de hockey since 2004, where he averages more than 200 penalty minutes per season.

“We just want to see him better. He’s such a nice kid. It really affected our team last night,” said Wagar.

The River Kings played in Trois Rivieres Sunday evening, losing 7-6 to le Caron et Guay.

The crowd attending the game was told of the River Kings’ No. 29’s dire circumstances at the game and Lessard’s jersey hung behind the team’s bench during the hockey game.

Lessard reportedly worked at Le Garage, a strip club, as a bar manager. An employee of Le Garage refused to comment when the Standard-Freeholder contacted the bar on Monday.

Local police initially responded and rushed Lessard to hospital in critical condition, however the Sureté de Quebec have taken over the investigation.

A spokesperson for Sureté de Quebec said witnesses indicated the shooter was a 6-foot, white male weighing approximately 190 lbs. and wearing a Batman mask.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are unknown at this time.

Lessard is said to now be in stable condition.

[shaud19]

spokesperson for Sureté de Quebec said witnesses indicated the shooter was a 6-foot, white male weighing approximately 190 lbs. and wearing a Batman mask.

What a punk criminal. Based on the articles Lessard is working two jobs at once, hockey being especially demanding. Then gets shot by a person wearing a batman mask. I hope the culprit is hunted down, punished and Lessard pulls through.

[SemiProFan]

"also said doctors are focused on reconstructing Lessard’s arm."

- THAT can not be good for any hockey player let alone an enforcer in the LNAH! He was certainly one of the few "old school" QSPHL guys left still dropping the mits every week in this league. Certainly hope he pulls through!!

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by SemiProFan

"also said doctors are focused on reconstructing Lessard’s arm."

- THAT can not be good for any hockey player let alone an enforcer in the LNAH! He was certainly one of the few "old school" QSPHL guys left still dropping the mits every week in this league. Certainly hope he pulls through!!

Not to mention if he's a strip club bouncer...

At the very least I hope he makes a full recovery so he can do day-to-day tasks.

[Humpzilla]

What a shame. The dude is a warrior on the ice...hopefuly that extends to off of it.

[blackngold]

The latest (10/31/12):

LINK

Recovery is looking good for Dannick Lessard after he was shot at a bar in Mirabel, Que. early Sunday morning.

The Cornwall River King’s enforcer is “alert and doing better,” said coach Al Wagar Wednesday.

He is still in intensive care, and mending injuries to his nose, stomach and arm.

However, this is an improvement over earlier in the week, when he was in an induced coma to keep calm and begin the healing process.

Lessard’s injuries came while he was standing outside Le Garage bar in Mirabel, where he works as a bar manager.

A spokesperson with the Sûreté de Québec said a man wearing a Batman mask opened fire outside the club at approximately 4 a.m. Sunday.

Lessard was reportedly hit four times and rushed to a nearby hospital.

His jersey was placed behind the team’s bench during their game on Sunday in Trois Rivières. “Everyone likes him . . . he’s a good guy in the (dressing) room,” Wagar told the Standard-Freeholder after the game.

The team plays again Saturday in Saint-Georges, Que.

The masked gunman has not been identified.

[Knuckles67]

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Player released from hospital...

River Kings enforcer Dannick Lessard is on the road to recovery, having left the hospital to continue his healing at home.

The Cornwall hockey player had been injured in a shooting Oct. 28 outside the bar Le Garage in Mirabel, Que. where he worked.

Team officials say the recovery is “going quite well,” considering the circumstances.

Lessard was reportedly hit four times and was initially in a coma to help with the recovery.

He underwent surgery to repair his elbow, said River Kings coach Al Wagar, and the surgery “went very well.”

The hockey player may even make an appearance at this weekend’s game, although not on the ice.

“Everybody just wants to see him. He’s a good team guy,” said Wagar.

“Just having him back in the arena to see the fans will be great for them.”

If not this weekend, Lessard is expected to be cheering on the River Kings next weekend.

“The River Kings would like to extend a huge thank you to the LNAH (Ligue nord-american de hockey), the six other teams and the fans for their support during this difficult time,” a release from the team reads.

Ryan Wolfson, 41, was arrested by Montreal police Nov. 3 and charged with the attempted murder of Lessard. He is facing a total of two murder charges and three attempted murder charges connected to five separate shootings between Sept. 29 and Oct. 28.

Surete de Quebec could not say if there was any connection between Lessard and the other victims.

Wolfson had been wanted by the RCMP since July.