Ex-Islander Mikhail Grabovski charged in alleged youth hockey coach attack

Former Islanders forward Mikhail Grabovski is facing potential legal issues in Toronto after an alleged incident following an Ontario Minor Hockey Association playoff game.

The alleged altercation occurred in Markham, Ontario, on March 14 at the Markham Village Community Centre, where York Regional Police were called to at roughly 10:50 p.m. for a report of an assault, according to the Toronto Sun. 

Grabovski was coaching a Markham Waxers under-15 playoff game at the time of the incident. 

The Flyers’ Braydon Coburn checks Mikhail Grabovski of the Islanders during a game on Nov. 24, 2014. Paul J. Bereswill

Officers arrested an unidentified suspect, according to the Toronto Sun, and the male was charged with one count of assault, with the victim being taken to a local hospital to treat minor injuries.

The Toronto Star, citing court records, reported that Grabovski allegedly assaulted the coach of the York-Simcoe Express, the opposing team, Warren Cooper. 

It is unclear what started the incident. 

A condition of Grabovski’s release is that he is prohibited from contacting Cooper, the CBC reported. 

The charges were sworn on March 30, and the first court appearance is scheduled to take place on June 12 in Newmarket, Ontario.

In a statement released following the incident, the OMHA denounced what had happened and said they would not make any further comments while “there is an ongoing police investigation.”  

Mikhail Grabovski looks on during the Islanders’ 3-1 loss to the Maple Leafs during a 2015 game at Barclays Center. Andrew Theodorakis/New York Post

“The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is aware of this situation and does not condone this type of behaviour, nor does it reflect the values of the OMHA or the sport,” the league said in a statement. 

Grabovski spent 10 seasons in the NHL, appearing in 534 games while recording 125 goals and 171 assists. 

A majority of his career was spent with the Maple Leafs, playing in Toronto from the 2008-13.

He came to Long Island for the final two seasons of his career, playing for the Islanders in their first final season at Nassau Coliseum in 2014-15 and their first in a short-lived stay at Barclays Center in 2015-16. 

Grabovski recorded 18 goals and 44 points during his two seasons with the Islanders.