Patrik Bartosak, a goaltending prospect for the Los Angeles Kings, faces 12 domestic-related charges following an alleged assault on his girlfriend Monday afternoon, according to the Manchester Union Leader. Bartosak allegedly grabbed, punched, slapped and attempted to strangle the 20-year-old woman. It is also alleged that the 22-year-old Czech Republic native made a series of threats against the woman, including one that he would kill her.
Bartosak waived arraignment according to the Union Leader and is free on $10,000 cash/surety bond with conditions that he not contact the alleged victim or return to the address where the alleged assault occurred.
A hearing with a local judge has been set for Dec. 16.
A felony charge of second-degree assault alleges Bartosak attempted to strangle his girlfriend early Monday afternoon.
Seven domestic simple assault charges allege he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against a wall, put his hand around her neck and choked her, grabbed her right chest and pulled her up off a bed, punched her in the chest twice, slapped her in the face and slapped her three times on both legs.
Three criminal threatening charges allege he told her: “If you don’t have anything to say I’m going to kill you,” “I’m going to punch you in the face if you don’t say anything,” and “I hope you know I’m going to knock you out and put you to sleep before I leave.”
It is also alleged that Bartosak waited for the woman outside the mall where she worked.
Bartosak is a former fifth-round pick of the Kings. He spent last season with the Manchester Monarchs, formerly of the AHL. He was due to join the Kings’ new AHL affiliate – the Ontario Reign – this year, but had yet to see game action and was sent back to Manchester, which is now the Kings’ ECHL affiliate, for a conditioning stint.
He was in net for each of the team's last two games.
The young netminder was also between the pipes for the Monarchs in the decisive Game 5 of the Calder Cup Final as the team claimed the AHL championship last season. He was forced into action due to an injury to regular starter J.F. Berube.
The Kings released the following statement in regards to the allegations against Bartosak (via Jon Rosen):
"This is a very serious matter and these allegations represent a type of behavior we don't stand for. We will continue to gather information and comment when appropriate."
The incident with Bartosak comes on the heels of a year in which three different Los Angeles Kings players were arrested. Most notably, defenseman Slava Voynov was charged and later pleaded no contest to charges of domestic violence against his wife. After serving jail time, Voynov voluntarily left the country to return to his native Russia amid the threat of possible deportation.
Veteran forward Jarret Stoll was arrested on drug possession charges soon after the Kings’ season ended. He eventually pleaded to lesser charges and now plays for the New York Rangers.
Mike Richards had his contract terminated after he was held at the U.S.-Canadian border and later charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance. The NHLPA filed a grievance on Richards’ behalf, but the Kings eventually reached a settlement with the player. Richards is now a free agent.
Amid those embarrassing incidents, the Kings instituted new “off-ice conduct awareness training initiatives” in September. The team partnered with various organizations including Peace over Violence, which aims to raise awareness against and thwart violence of all kinds.
The team also instituted several initiatives to help raise awareness about alcohol and drug abuse.
According to the team’s release, the conduct awareness program was designed to create “a sustainable plan for all AEG sports teams while setting standards and expectations for all employees.” As he is under contract with an AEG-owned team, Bartosak would likely be or should have been involved in some way with this program.
Though this did not happen to a player on the NHL roster, it is no less embarrassing for the Kings to have a player under their umbrella allegedly breaking the very policies they so publicly unveiled just two months ago. How the team handles this specific case will be drawing plenty of scrutiny.
