Roy apologizes for brawl

QUEBEC CITY - Former NHL great-turned junior league coach Patrick Roy has apologized following an incident Saturday in which his son attacked the opposing goaltender, then made a vulgar gesture to the crowd.

A police investigation has been opened into the incident.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) announced earlier Monday that it had slapped Roy with a 5-game suspension for "prejudicial conduct". His son, Jonathan Roy who plays as a back-up goaltender was handed a 7-game suspension, and a $500 fine.

Both Roy's team, the Quebec City Remparts and the opposing Chicoutimi Sagueneens were slapped with a $4-thousand fine. A handful of other suspensions were handed out to other members of both teams, and the Saguneens Coach Richard Martel who will miss 2 games.

In a statement, QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau called the events "deplorable and unacceptable." He warned "these types of incidents will not be tolerated and that should any more occur, steep fines will be handed out."

Roy, who earned a reputation for having a short temper while playing for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche made a brief statement to the media, taking no questions. He apologized to officials from the league, his team; and to Saguneens goaltender Bobby Nadeau and his family.

"I certainly regret not taking better control of the situation," said Roy.

Roy did not respond to suggestions he egged his son on, but says he accepts the league's ruling.

"My goal is to never make this sort of mistake again," he said.

A spokesperson for Quebec's Sports Minister refused to comment on the ruling, but says Michele Courchesne has already spoken to league officials, and intends to address the issue of violence in sports with her colleagues from other provinces.

ADQ leader Mario Dumont says it isn't up to the government to manage sports leagues on a "day to day" basis, but says his party is "open to a wider debate on violence in sports, as well as other ethical questions" such as the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume refused to comment on the situation, which sheds a negative light on the city which is in the middle of celebrations to mark its 400th anniversary.

"We didn't need this," says Labeaume. "But I prefer to be a spectator of hocky."