The NHL is really making criminal headlines these days. Patrick Kane is accused of rape. Slava Voynov will voluntarily return to Russia to avoid deportation after a domestic violence incident.
But this headline is Cecil the Lion big! Anaheim Ducks defenseman, Clayton Stoner, has been charged for numerous offenses in relation to the killing a grizzly bear, named “Cheeky the Bear”, in British Columbia.
According to the Vancouver Sun: (link: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/hockey+player+charged+with+unlawful+grizzly+hunt+central/11369438/story.html?hootPostID=d193185ef7505f86c87bf281054ca72b&__lsa=5923-19cb)
The B.C.-born Stoner is charged with two counts of making a false statement to obtain a licence on May 22, 2013, as well as one count of hunting without a licence, one count of hunting wildlife out of season, and one count of unlawful possession of dead wildlife — the latter three offences allegedly taking place on May 28, 2013. Stoner is scheduled to appear in Vancouver provincial court on Oct. 9.
While bear hunting is legal in British Columbia, one of the offenses, as stated, was this hunt violated a major law. Though Stoner is originally from British Columbia, he was not a permanent resident at that time. During the hunt, Stoner lived and played for Minnesota. Just like a certain dentist.
You may be asking yourself, “Where’s the outrage?” However, it did happen. Just read the Deadspin article (http://deadspin.com/dipshit-hockey-player-murders-grizzly-bear-for-sport-1264834641). And this also happened two years ago. We seem to forget how forgetful we all are. After a few weeks, we quickly move on to another fad topic that just makes us all angry.
However, the locals were extremely outraged. The bear, like Cecil, was a local favorite. Huh? That Cecil connection keeps coming up. Anyway, First Nations, a coalition amongst the natives in British Columbia, declared the area used for the hunt off-limits. Their outrage was expressed in a 20-minute documentary called “Bear Witness”.
Stoner’s not denying the incident. He even posed in a photo with himself and Cheeky’s decapitated head.
He, however, has not commented on the recent charges.
Danielle E. Meegan
Contributor/Hockey Expert
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