Ex-Sabre Paetsch pleads guilty to sports betting

Buffalo Sabres Nathan Paetsch skates during warm-up prior to a 2007 game. (Adrian Wyld/CP)

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A professional hockey player has admitted being part of an illegal sports betting business.

U.S. Attorney William Hochul says Nathan Paetsch, of Spencerport, New York, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Rochester as part of a plea agreement.

The agreement calls for probation, community service and eight months of home confinement. He’ll also have to forfeit $265,000.


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Paetsch played portions of five seasons with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, through 2010. He’s been with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins the past three seasons.

Authorities say Paetsch was involved in a gambling operation whose three principals were convicted earlier. Paetsch’s attorney says his involvement was minimal and included getting credit when he introduced friends, including other players, to the operation.

The attorney says the players never bet on hockey.

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