Calgary Flames prospect Michael Ferland, who was charged with assault after an alleged altercation in 2012 outside the Rockyview Hotel, will now face trial in a higher court after the Crown prosecutor opted for a direct indictment without a preliminary hearing.
Ferland, 21, who is from Brandon, Man., allegedly struck a man in the face, fracturing the orbital bone around his eye, knocking him unconscious while outside the downtown-Cochrane bar July 29, 2012. The Flames prospect is accused of an assault against Wesley Bunn and aggravated assault of Jayson Eyma.
Originally, Ferland had elected to appear before provincial court in Calgary June 24-28 before asking electing to be heard in a higher court during an early-June court appearance.
Ferland will appear before the Queen’s Bench July 19. Since the night of the incident, Ferland has maintained his innocence. Through a statement released by his attorney, Ferland noted he would like to put the matter behind him and carry on with his hockey career.
“It frustrates me to see that a court trial may be the only way to bring out the truth,” Ferland said in a press release. “Unfortunately, I can’t control what other people say or do. All I ask is that the police, the prosecutors and the court look at the evidence the same way they would if I wasn’t a professional hockey player.”
Ferland’s attorney added that despite having complete confidence in his client’s innocence he is still hopeful that more witnesses will come forward to share what they saw the night of the assault. Ferland was the fifth-round draft choice for the Calgary Flames during the 2010 NHL draft.
