THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL — Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows is under investigation for an incident that occurred during a summer league game, his agent Paul Corbeil said Monday.
RDS reported a complaint was filed July 21 that Burrows hit goaltender Koray Celik in the face with his stick during a game at the Excellent Ice arena in suburban Kirkland, Que. A member of Celik’s family said they would make no comment before their lawyer is consulted.
Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy has learned that some in attendance say it was not a violent strike to the face as has been reported, but a cross-check to the mask instead. The cross-check may also have been in retaliation to repeated spears by the young goaltender.
Sources also told Murphy that after the game the alleged victim called his parents who then called the local police. Burrows was questioned by police on the day of the incident, but word is that he has not been contacted by authorities since.
"’There are no changes, the police are investigating, but we won’t comment on what happened," Corbeil said from his office in Trois-Rivieres, Que. "’I don’t think he’ll he charged, but you never know."
Corbeil said he was told what occurred was "not unusual" in the summer league, called the Pond Hockey League, where pro and university players skate to stay in shape during the off-season. Celik, a 19-year-old from Ile-Bizzard, Que., plays for the University of Southern Maine Huskies.
Burrows had a career-high 28 goals and 51 points last season. The 27-year-old signed a four-year contract in March that will pay him US$2-million per season.
