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No police investigation of Junior A hockey incident, say Richmond RCMP

Video of the game shows an apparent chokehold that left a North Van Wolf Pack goalie with a ‘severe’ injury
Nick Laba
Nick Laba

Police have confirmed that there is no investigation underway related to a brawl at a Junior A hockey game that left one player barely moving on the ice.

When asked if police had a file related to an incident at a Pacific Junior Hockey League game Jan. 25 at Minoru arena, Richmond RCMP said they have no reported incidents matching that criteria.

Late in the third period of the game between the North Van Wolf Pack and Richmond Sockeyes, a brawl broke out. Video of the game shows an altercation between Wolf Pack goalie Evan Paul and Sockeyes defender Eithan Grishin. During the incident, Grishin appears to put Paul in a chokehold. After they are separated, Paul is seen lying nearly motionless on the ice.

Following the game, the Wolf Pack said Paul was recovering from a “severe” injury.

But as of Jan. 31, neither the PJHL nor the Sockeyes had released any statements regarding the event.

Despite reports that Grishin was suspended pending a disciplinary hearing, Sockeyes announcer Steve Erickson said he hadn’t heard anything about it.

“I assume it would be like indefinite until the league reviews it, which would be normal for any league … but I honestly do not know,” he said, adding that Grishin was not at Monday’s game against White Rock.

No notice of any discipline has been posted on the PJHL website, which lists two previous suspensions of Grishin earlier this season.

Grishin’s conduct has been widely condemned by the hockey community online, and at an unrelated press conference on Tuesday, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the Criminal Code applies on the ice.

“Criminal actions need to be taken care of by criminal processes,” he said.

Both the PJHL and the Richmond Sockeyes haven't responded to multiple requests for comment.