Canucks’ Brashear Charged With Assault

Vancouver Canuck enforcer Donald Brashear, the victim of a stick attack by Marty McSorley last season, was charged with assaulting a man at his home in Vancouver, Canada.

No one was seriously hurt and Brashear was not arrested after the confrontation Monday. He was issued a summons to appear in court Jan. 2.

Brashear is accused of assaulting a man who had told the player’s wife to leave the townhouse’s weight room because she was with her baby, police spokeswoman Anne Drennan said Wednesday.

Canuck General Manager Brian Burke said the team would wait until the “appropriate time” to comment on the case.

Brashear, a winger who has been with the Canucks since 1996, was struck on the head by McSorley, who was playing for the Boston Bruins. He sat out 20 games because of the injury.

McSorley was convicted this year on charges of assault with a weapon. He was given a conditional discharge, which means he will have no criminal record. He was suspended indefinitely and later allowed to return to the NHL in February.

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Defenseman Derek Morris ended his season-long holdout and signed with the Calgary Flames.

“We know we’re better with Derek in the lineup than without him,” said General Manager Craig Button, who would not reveal the contract terms. “There was give on both sides.”

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Rick DiPietro, the first goalie selected No. 1 in the NHL entry draft, was recalled for the second time by the New York Islanders. DiPietro, 19, was called up from Chicago of the International Hockey League because the Islanders’ top goalie, John Vanbiesbrouck, has a strained back.

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New York Ranger defenseman Vladimir Malakhov will have reconstructive surgery on his left knee Friday and will probably be sidelined the remainder of the season, the team said.