| | DALLAS -- A week after being arrested in the
assault of a hotel security guard, an apologetic Ed Belfour rejoined the Dallas Stars on the ice on Wednesday, promising to do
his best to lead the team to a second straight Stanley Cup.
Belfour worked out with his teammates for about 30 minutes
during a pregame skate for Wednesday night's game at the
Continental Airlines Arena against the New Jersey Devils.
|  | | Ed Belfour was back in net for the Stars during Wednesday's pregame warmups in New Jersey. |
The 12-year-veteran, whose performance in the playoffs helped the Stars
win the Cup, stayed on the ice about an extra 25 minutes working
with the coaching staff.
Manny Fernandez, who has started the four games since Belfour's
arrest last Wednesday, is scheduled to start against the Devils
with Belfour being his backup.
Belfour hopes to start Saturday at Chicago. He refused to
discuss his arrest on the advice of his attorney.
"I'm just happy to be back now," said Belfour, who has a
28-18-5 record with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .919 save
percentage, all among the NHL's best this season.
"I am motivated to be back and I am looking forward to
contributing down the stretch to the success of the Dallas Stars,
and I am looking forward to another Stanley Cup run. I am going to
do the best I can to play the best Ed Belfour can play."
Belfour was charged with aggravated assault on the guard and
resisting arrest. He spent six hours in police custody and had not
been with the team since, though he was never suspended by the NHL
or the Stars.
Witnesses said Belfour appeared intoxicated when he arrived at
the hotel with an unidentified woman. She later told security she
was afraid of him and wanted to leave, police said. Hotel officials
accompanied her to a cab and she left.
Belfour also tried to leave his hotel room. When a guard tried
to subdue him, Belfour slammed the man against a wall and put him
in a headlock, letting go only after police sprayed him with Mace,
authorities said.
After being released, Belfour met for two days with an
independent team of mental health and substance abuse counselors
provided by the league and the NHL Players' Association.
Belfour skated in Dallas the past two days with injured
teammates. He arrived in New Jersey on Tuesday night and apologized
to his teammates.
"They've been 100 percent supportive from the start," Belfour
said. "Guys called me every day and asked me how I was doing, all
kinds of good stuff. I appreciate that kind of support. It means a
lot to me."
Veteran Brett Hull did not think an apology was necessary.
"We've all made mistakes," Hull said. "If we all had to
apologize every time we made a mistake there wouldn't be time for
anything else."
Belfour said he felt rusty but anxious to play again.
"I am more motivated than ever to get back in there and prove
that I am one of the best in the league, and that anything that has
happened is not going to effect me," he said.
With Fernandez in goal, the Stars have won two games, tied one
and lost another in overtime. Opponents have scored 12 goals in
those games.
"I think he handled it well," Belfour said of Ferenandez, who
has seen limited action in his five NHL seasons. "I sure there
were some times when I think he was a little nervous, but that's
going to be a case with any young goaltender who hasn't played many
games in a row."
Fernandez was well aware Wednesday morning that his time in the
spotlight would soon be ending.
"One sure thing, the team has been playing real well when
Eddie's been in there and Eddie has been playing well, too. It's a
good combination. If you need an answer to that `all the way'
thing, with Eddie we can go all the way for sure."
| |
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