Perinton, N.Y. --- On the ice Scott McDonald coaches the RIT Women’s Hockey Team that is currently ranked #1 in the nation with a 21-1-1 record. Off the ice McDonald is now facing an assault charge stemming from a punch he threw during a men’s Recreational League game on December 1st.
McDonald, 35, was in Perinton Town Court Tuesday afternoon to plead not guilty to a 3rd Degree Assault Charge. That is a misdemeanor carrying with it a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
The punch was thrown around 11:30 p.m. at the Thomas Creek Ice Arena with about six minutes remaining in a game that McDonald's team was losing by five goals, according to court documents. The victim, Taylor Scott of Fairport, suffered three broken teeth and nerve damage to his jaw. One of Scott's teammates called 911 after the official ended the game because of the incident.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded to the arena and investigated but charges were not pressed that night. Scott, 21, states in court documents that two weeks later after consulting with a lawyer and his doctors he did wish to press criminal charges.
"This guy grabbed the back of my jersey and sucker punched me in the mouth," Scott stated in his report to police. “The punch was totally unprovoked and I did nothing to deserve it.”
Scott weny on to tell police that immediately after the punch he “could feel my teeth in the back of my mouth and I started pitting out blood.”
The official for that game, Jeffrey Fitzsimmons, also provided police with a statement although he stated he could only identify McDonald by his uniform and the number on his jersey. Fitzsimmons did state that he witnessed Scott and McDonald skating near each other and exchanging words prior to the punch.
