Interesting Story about new Yorkton Acquisition Solomon McCann.

This article if from the Prince George Citizen.


McCann's hope -- lesson learned

(Sports) Tuesday, 27 November 2007, 22:52 PST
JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor

In Solomon McCann’s eyes, a plea deal reached by former Prince George Spruce Kings player Ryan Hill prevented two things.
One, it keeps McCann from being able to tell his side of the story in front of a judge. And two, the prosecutor can’t raise the question of whether Hill’s actions were his idea alone.
McCann, 19, was the victim of a vicious cross-check from Hill during a stoppage in play in a B.C. Hockey League game played between the Spruce Kings and Quesnel Millionaires at CN Centre on Feb. 24. Hill, traded to the Port Hope Predators of the Ontario Junior Hockey League last month, was given a conditional discharge Tuesday on a reduced count of common assault, provided he comply with probation terms such as community service and writing an essay on violence in sports (see story on page 1).
“I think it’s good (the court system) did something,” said McCann, now able to speak publicly with the legal process complete.
“It’s not something that’s going to be easy for him to live with, which I think is good. The biggest thing I wanted to get out was not a huge punishment for him, but more that this kind of thing should not be part of the game. I wanted it to show people that this is disgusting.
“You can’t tell on the video that (one of the coaches sent Hill), but he came from the bench and he took his time. I’m almost positive he didn’t go on his own. If he’d have reacted on his own, it would’ve been more of a thing where he jumped over the boards right away.”
Darcy Buryn, in his first year as president of the Spruce Kings, commented on behalf of team while the Kings and Millionaires met last night at the Coliseum.
“Ryan Hill is a real character young man and we were proud he was part of our team,” said Buryn.
“We hope Ryan takes this and moves forward. Even the judge called it a momentary lapse of judgment and the character references Ryan had... the judge looked at other cases and decided Ryan didn’t deserve a criminal record out of this.”
A clip of the incident posted on YouTube has now been viewed more than 11,000 times. Hill, who played sparingly as a Spruce King, came off his team’s bench during a lengthy stoppage after McCann had taken down Prince George defenceman Jeff Forsythe with a clean check. In McCann’s view, that Hill’s cross-check came during a break in play makes this event more serious, and worthy of police involvement, than much-publicized NHL incidents involving Marty McSorley, Todd Bertuzzi and Chris Simon.
McCann said it’s hard to watch the video.
“I’ve had a pretty tough time with it,” said the Prince George minor hockey product.
“I remember everything. I try not to focus on what happened. I think this is worse (than the NHL situations), those injuries were to the face or concussions. (Hill) using the shaft of his stick, he could’ve caused more permanent damage if he’d have gotten my spine or throat.
“Simon, McSorley, they happened in the middle of the play and it was heat of the moment. You can get angry on the ice. But this, they had more than two minutes to think about what they were going to do. That’s the thing that frustrates me the most, that it wasn’t just heat-of-the-moment and they knew what they wanted to do to me.”
No one from the McCann family was present at Tuesday’s hearing. Hill is not allowed to have contact with his victim, and McCann said the two have seen each other at the rink or in social settings since then, with no words exchanged.
Tuesday is a day McCann won’t forget for one other reason. Not long after Hill’s appearance was over, McCann found out he’s going to Yorkton, Sask., to join the SJHL’s Terriers. McCann asked the Millionaires for a trade three weeks ago.
“I got a call from them (Tuesday), and I fly out (today),” said McCann, who has a goal of earning a college scholarship.
“It wasn’t working in Quesnel for me this year, and I felt I needed a change of atmosphere and an opportunity to put more points up on the board.”