TORONTO (Jan. 31) — Though the case is still open, it appears the complaint/allegation from a Los Angeles woman that she was punched in a Hollywood night-club by Leafs’ defenseman Mike Komisarek is lacking credence.
According to a report on the weekend, Komisarek vehemently denied any such action in a statement to the Los Angeles Police Department, and there doesn’t appear to be independent corroboration from others in the club on Jan. 8. In fact, witnesses questioned by the LAPD claimed they did not see Komisarek strike any person that night.
In the absence of further complaint; a charge, or continued investigation by the LAPD, the issue will revert to the Maple Leafs for follow up. NHL players — as with others in professional sport — have to be mindful of off-ice behavior. The standard players contract (SPC) contains a morality clause that provides a team widespread disciplinary leverage. Such measures can range from a fine, to a suspension, to full revocation of a contract, though the latter is almost unheard of. It was invoked by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in the Michael Vick dog-fighting case.
It’s likely the Maple Leafs are in the process of their own investigation with Komisarek, who has endured a dreadful season on the club’s blue-line. Though a good teammate and a friendly, cooperative media subject, Komisarek is an emotional man and is clearly not enamored with his meager playing time — he’s appeared for as few as eight minutes a game recently
Near the end of a practice session two weeks ago at MasterCard Centre, Komisarek angered assistant coach Tim Hunter when he destroyed a plastic Gatorade bottle with his stick while leaving the ice. The defenseman and coach had engaged in a brief conversation seconds earlier relating to ice time, and Komisarek’s petulant display prompted Hunter to take off after him en route to the dressing room. He ordered the player back onto the ice to pick up the mangled bottle and the two had further words.
The Leafs flew to Los Angeles from Atlanta on Jan. 8 (a Saturday), after a 9-3 romp over the Thrashers the previous night. They arrived at their hotel in Marina del Rey late in the afternoon and the players had the evening to themselves, with a late-afternoon practice scheduled the following afternoon.
It’s doubtful that absolutely nothing happened at the night-club that Saturday; such establishments in trendy Hollywood are routinely packed on weekends and a person entirely fabricating an incident would be ridiculed to no end. So, Komisarek probably engaged in some form of dispute with a fellow patron, though a specific assault complaint must be corroborated by witnesses for a charge to be laid. To this point, no one has come forward to support the allegation.
Whether the Leafs choose to discipline Komisarek under the SPC morals clause remains to be seen; if so, it will almost certainly be an internal matter between player and team. Komisarek has been instructed by general manager Brian Burke not to comment to reporters on the alleged incident; neither has Burke issued any statement.
The Leafs return to practice this afternoon at 3 after the NHL All-Star break. Next game is tomorrow night, against Florida, at the Air Canada Centre.
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