Beer-league goalie gets jail time for slashing opponent's face with stick

A beer-league goalie was sentenced to 30 days in jail Wednesday after seriously injuring an opposing player with his stick, according to Bill Sawchuk of the St. Catharines Standard.

The incident occurred May 7, 2016 during a three-on-three tournament in Fort Erie, Ontario. Ryan Cox was on a breakaway toward the end of the game when the goalie, Todd Ball, left his crease and swung his stick at Cox's face with both hands.

Cox was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent seven hours of facial reconstruction surgery. He suffered a concussion, a fractured orbital, and fractures on both sides of his nose, and has been unable to return to work. The reconstruction treatment isn't complete, and six plates are holding his face together.

Ball had been "binge drinking" since the early morning to celebrate his birthday, the court heard. He's currently in counseling and will serve his sentence on weekends, along with one year of probation for assault causing bodily harm.

"It was a non-contact tournament for fun. ... He only got 30 days for breaking someone's face. My life has never been the same," Cox said.

"I can't feel my face. It is numb. I get bad headaches. It is hard for me to sleep. I've had facial surgeries and reconstructions. The sentence was too lenient. It's an injustice. It's ridiculous."