Winnipeg Jets' goaltender Ondrej Pavelec bobbles the puck against the Dallas Stars during first period NHL action in Winnipeg on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Just weeks after signing a US$19.5-million, five-year deal, Winnipeg Jets goalie starting goalie Ondrej Pavelec is back in the headlines. Winnipeg media, citing Nova Sport in the Czech Republic, said the 24-year-old Czech was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered not to drive for 20 months after crashing his BMW in May in his native country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
July 16, 2012 - 6:41 PM
WINNIPEG - Just weeks after signing a US$19.5-million, five-year deal, Winnipeg Jets goalie starting goalie Ondrej Pavelec is back in the headlines.
Winnipeg media, citing Nova Sport in the Czech Republic, said the 24-year-old Czech was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered not to drive for 20 months after crashing his BMW in May in his native country.
No injuries were cited in the report.
The Jets put out a two-paragraph statement but did not confirm the report.
"At this time True North Sports & Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets hockey club are aware of various, yet still inconsistent, Internet reports pertaining to Ondrej Pavelec," the release read.
"We, as an organization, are attempting to gather more information and until such time as we are comfortable and have a full understanding of the situation, we will not be issuing any further comment."
Pavelec's Los Angeles-based agent Allan Walsh did not immediately return a message.
The report comes a week before Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien is slated to stand trial in Minneapolis on charges including impaired boating.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012