McSorley Takes First Step Toward Earning Reinstatement

Marty McSorley, convicted of assault with a weapon for hitting Donald Brashear with his stick during a game, met Tuesday with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman regarding his reinstatement.

No immediate decision from Bettman was expected.

McSorley, then of the Boston Bruins, was suspended for the final 23 games of last season after striking Vancouver’s Brashear in the head with a two-handed swing of his stick. He was convicted in a Canadian court Oct. 6.

The conviction was the first of an NHL player for an on-ice hit since 1988.

The 17-year veteran is still under suspension and needs Bettman’s approval to resume his NHL career. McSorley is an unrestricted free agent.

Neither McSorley nor Bettman was available for comment.

McSorley, 37, testified at his trial in Vancouver that he didn’t intend to hit Brashear in the head during the Feb. 21 game. He contends he was trying to hit Brashear in the shoulder to provoke him into fighting.

Judge William Kitchen gave McSorley a conditional discharge, so McSorley will serve no jail time and his record eventually could be expunged. He could have been sentenced to as much as 1 1/2 years in prison.