KrazyTea

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 | 3:20 PM ET
CBC Sports

Florida Panthers defenceman Jay Bouwmeester plead guilty in Edmonton on Tuesday to one count of impaired driving.

Judge Michael Allen fined the Panthers blue-liner $1,000 and banned him from driving in Canada for a year. He must also pay a $150 victim surcharge.mages)

"Hopefully, I'm sure this will be the last time I see you in court," Judge Allen told Bouwmeester in provincial court.

Bouwmeester, 23, was arrested last summer near a popular nightclub area in Edmonton, his hometown.

He was charged with impaired driving and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of more than .08. Police allege an off-duty officer saw the hockey player's vehicle swerving.

When pulled over, the court heard, the former Medicine Hat Tigers star told the officer he knew he was drunk.

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KrazyTea

We talk so much about Vick and his antics, we talk about Pacman Jones and all his gang-related and other violent offenses, and we talk about how violent and irresponsible NFL and NBA stars are as role models for youth? But how come we always downplay the events of Bouwmeester, Bell, and other hockey players when they turn their vehicles into weapons? I'll admit having my best friend killed when we were 15 and my brother in-laws sister's death when he was younger (both killed by drunk drivers) that I'm a little partial to animosity for those who drink and drive. Your telling me that a hockey player can't afford a cab ride? That sounds a little ludicrous to me, I hope that teams can get a little tougher on these types of offenders and maybe find them a chaperone if need be, although that's going a little far. All I'm trying to say is that I hope we get a little tougher on the NHLs versions of miscreants, in the form of driving while intoxicated, which should be done first in the media.

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