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Pavelec Gets Suspended Sentence for DUI

July 16, 2012, 11:08 PM ET [20 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Okay... I haven't done this much and honestly I am loathe to do it at all as it involves a person's personal life. However, this does affect the team, and the organization as much as it does the player.

Ondrej Pavelec rocked his BMW M6 into another car and was discovered to have a blood alcohol level of .20. The legal level in Manitoba is .08 and there is no legal limit in the Czech Republic. This conviction occured almost one month earlier to the day that Pavelec signed his 5 year 20 million dollar contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets.

So let's stop there and look at some of the reports from this event.

Winnipeg Free Press: Pavelec Convicted of DUI

Bleacher Report Ondrej Pavelec's DUI Conviction a Black Mark for Winnipeg Jets

Toronto Sun: Report: Jets goalie charged with drunk driving

Winnipeg Sun Pavelec gets DUI: Czech media


First off let's be clear about driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it's not funny, it's not cool, it's basically as stupid and dumb as one can be in life. I don't agree with MADD but they have one thing right- DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!!!!

Now look at these stories and say to yourself, one of these is not like the others and of course it's the Bleacher Report. The guy was in his home country, if not town, in his own car on his own time and doing his own thing...correct? So how does this become a black mark on the Jets organization?

I know there are a lot of crafty lawyers out there but I can't think of one who could pin this event on the Jets? Are they culpable because they gave Pavelec enough money before any reasonable person thought he was worth it therefore enabling a purchase of an M6 and the beer that caused the event?

There's no story here- the guy screwed up. He did not kill anyone (thankfully), let alone cause serious injury. Is he a risk? Aside from his career .908 save percentage no he is not. He's young, rich and had a chance to make a good decision and didn't. When I was 23 I unfortunately did the same thing and that's where I leave this. I never got caught but being a young male (it's some sort of stupidity disease that affects us) I made similar mistakes- yes more than once.

Let's hope as a person of celebrity he learns and feels accountable to those who pay him and believe in him. If that's not enough then there's an argument for conditions on guaranteed contracts in the next CBA for when players do immensely stupid things which can affect them and more importantly others who are completely innocent. Just ask Craig McTavish... he killed a person and everyone moved on. That's what should be done with this issue where no one was hurt except a bit of the reputation of the culprit.

So... any Wellwood sightings at the Wagon Wheel before it closed?
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