Spirit players sentenced in assault case

SAGINAW (WJRT) (WJRT) -- (03/27/07)-- Five current and former members of the Saginaw Spirit Hockey Team learned their fate in court this morning.

The five players pleaded guilty last month to misdemeanor assault and battery charges in connection with an incident involving a minor girl last October.

The only thing the court ever said regarding specifics of the case was that it involved "improper contact" with a 15-year-old-girl  at a Tittabawassee Township home last October 4th.

All five players receiving the exact same sentence, which includes no jail time. All were sentenced to two  years probation along with fines.

They are also ordered to undergo counseling,  250 hours of community service and they'll be responsible for any costs the victim pays out for counseling or anything involved with this case over the next two years.

Only two of the players,  Ryan McDonough and Chris Chappell, still play with the Spirit.

Zack Torquato now plays with Erie and Scott Fletcher and Matt Corrente are now members of he Mississauga Ice Dogs.

Ultimately, Prosecutor Mike Thomas says, they may have sought harsher sentencing in the case,  but that would have involved  possibly five separate court trials.

According to Thomas,  that was something the victim's family did not want to happen. "The victim's family was fully apprised. We discussed the plea with them numerous times. They approved it, they agreed with it, they did not want to have their daughter have to come to court and testify in multiple cases," Thomas said.

The Spirit are in the midst of a first round playoff series with Sault Saint Marie. Game three is tonight in Canada.

The team left yesterday, and both McDonough and  Chappell were scheduled to join the team as soon as everything was wrapped up in court.

 

 

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