When it comes to role models in the Yorkton area, few are bigger than Jarret Stoll. For that reason, it is perhaps not surprising that no one wants to talk on the record about the fact the two-time Stanley Cup champion was arrested on felony drug possession charges in Las Vegas last week.
A police report obtained Monday by TSN, indicated Stoll had agreed to a voluntary “pat-down” while trying to enter a party at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand resort on the afternoon of April 17. The security guard found what he thought was contraband in the form of two small baggies of off-white powder and another baggie containing numerous gel caps in Stoll’s right rear pocket. He called police.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police charged the LA Kings centre with felony possession of 3.3 grams of cocaine and eight grams of MDMA (Ecstasy).
Soon after his arrest, Stoll was released on $5,000 bail and a promise to appear in court July 1.
According to TSN, a prominent Las Vegas defence attorney suggested as a first time offender Stoll would likely be allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor possession and get off with a small fine and condition to take an online drug awareness course.
While Stoll’s legal issues may be easy enough to address, his public relations challenges could linger.
Gina Flett, executive director of Yorkton Minor Hockey said the organization is not commenting at this time, adding dealing with questions from kids is more of a parenting issue.
Jarret Stoll was born in Melville in 1982. He played minor hockey in Neudorf, Melville and ultimately Yorkton where he attended St. Paul’s Elementary and Sacred Heart High School. In 1997, he led the Bantam AAA Terriers to a Western Canadian Championship and was drafted first overall in the WHL Bantam draft by the Edmonton Ice.
Stoll played with the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League before moving up to the Ice at the end of the 1997-1998 season. The next year the Ice moved to Cranbrook BC and rebranded as the Kootenay Ice. Stoll played four seasons with Kootenay. He was named captain in 2000-2001 and won the Memorial Cup in 2001-2002.
While playing Junior hockey with the Ice, Stoll was twice drafted by NHL teams in 2000 by Calgary and 2002 by Edmonton. He spent most of his first season in the Oilers’ system with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He played six full seasons as an Oiler before being traded to Los Angeles in 2008.
Since then he has twice brought the Stanely Cup back to Yorkton in 2012 and 2014.
This bust comes just as Stoll is coming off his worst statistical season as a professional. He becomes a free agent coincidentally on July 1.
