Edmonton Oilers Nikolai Khabibulin released from Tent City after serving sentence –NHL News Update
Edmonton Oilers' veteran goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin, was released from Tent City after serving half of his 30-day sentence at the facility, for which he was sentenced to after being convicted of extreme driving under the influence (DUI) during the summer
of 2010. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office, Khabibulin was released after 12:00 am, on Saturday, August 13.
The 38-year-old goalie from Sverdlovsk, Russia, had originally been convicted of DUI along with reckless driving and had been sentenced to full 30-days in jail, but after he decided to drop his appeal to clear the matter during July of this year, the Scottsdale
City Court redefined the term to 15 days in jail and 15 days at home.
Now Khabibulin will serve his remaining 15 days of home arrest which require him to wear a tracking device along with entering an alcohol treatment programme. He was satisfied after accepting to serve the sentence, keeping in view the starting of Edmonton
Oilers training camp, which he could of missed.
“I readily accept the lawful sentence which has been imposed by the Scottsdale Municipal Court, which includes jail, fines and substance abuse counseling. I will fulfill all of my obligations required by Scottsdale and the State of Arizona in the coming
month. Once completed, I eagerly anticipate a timely return to Edmonton for training camp, where I will strive to be the best player, teammate and citizen possible”, Khabibulin announced after taking back his appeal.
Luckily for Edmonton Oilers who still have the veteran on contract up until 2013, part of a four-year, $15 million deal, will be able to get the player back in September, when his house arrest will finish up.
Now 15 days at home will be good for Khabibulin not only to reconnect with his family, but to also find out ways to correct his public image and rethink about his previous actions, which he regrets for having led up to this day.
At 38, Khabibulin might not have a lot of years remaining in him to continue playing hockey, but they are more than enough to make everything else right.
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