Calgary Flames prospect and left-winger Michael Ferland’s trial date will be June 24, 2013 to face charges of assault that were laid against him during a bar fight at Cochrane’s Stageline Saloon on July 29, 2012.
Ferland, 20, was implicated in the altercation after he allegedly struck a man who was assisting another man who had been shoved to the ground. The victim was knocked unconscious in the incident fracturing the orbital bone around his eye.
According to RCMP, Ferland fled from the scene of the attack, but was later apprehended after further investigation.
The trial will be held in Calgary, where Ferland and his attorney Michael Bates will have a chance to address the charges.
Since the night of the incident, Ferland has maintained his innocence. Through a statement released by his attorney, Ferland noted he would like to put the matter behind him and carry on with his hockey career.
“It frustrates me to see that a court trial may be the only way to bring out the truth,” Ferland said in a press release. “Unfortunately, I can’t control what other people say or do. All I ask is that the police, the prosecutors and the court look at the evidence the same way they would if I wasn’t a professional hockey player.”
Ferland’s attorney went on to add that despite having complete confidence in his client’s innocence he is still hopeful that more witnesses will come forward to share what they saw the night of the assault.
“We are aware of at least two eyewitnesses that have identified someone other than Michael Ferland as the person responsible for this incident,” said Bates. “I was shocked to learn the RCMP failed to even take the name and number of one such witness who came forward at the scene.”
Originally from Brandon, Man., Ferland was the fifth-round draft choice for the Calgary Flames during the 2010 National Hockey League draft.
He is currently residing in Abbotsford, B.C. where he is playing out his rookie season with the Abbotsford Heat.
