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Milan Lucic, a former forward for the NHL, has inked a deal with the Fife Flyers, a team in the Elite Ice Hockey League of Britain, as disclosed by the club on Thursday.
The Vancouver-born athlete, now 37, participated in 1,177 NHL regular-season matches and secured a Stanley Cup victory with the Boston Bruins during 2011. Lucic additionally represented the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames.
Recently, he was involved with the St. Louis Blues’ American Hockey League branch in Springfield, joining them on a professional tryout agreement. He achieved a single assist over five appearances with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
In 2023, Lucic faced charges related to a reported domestic event concerning his spouse, Brittany Carnegie; however, legal authorities subsequently dismissed the proceedings when she chose not to give evidence, thereby rendering further action unfeasible.
Media outlets in Scotland indicated on Thursday that the player’s acquisition has provoked disapproval from those campaigning against domestic violence, occurring simultaneously with the departure of two senior figures from the Fife Flyers organization.
Scottish Women’s Aid expressed that the club conveyed an inappropriate message through Lucic’s recruitment. A representative informed STV News that “teams hiring athletes who have faced allegations of violence against females convey an improper signal,” further stating that sports hold considerable sway over individuals’ existences.
Gareth Chalmers, the chief operating officer for Fife Flyers, disclosed his departure last week, attributing it to a divergence in opinion regarding the club’s trajectory in light of recent events concerning the squad.
Via a social media update, Chalmers stated his inability to “compromise personal and professional probity for choices I disagree with,” yet he refrained from explicitly mentioning the acquisition of Lucic.
His return to active status occurred this year
Craig Anderson, a media advisor, also parted ways with the organization after serving for under three months in his capacity. On X, Anderson communicated that he was no longer able to endorse the path the club was taking, although he did not name Lucic specifically.
Lucic’s most recent appearance in the NHL was in 2023, and he was returned to active duty earlier this year subsequent to finishing the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Lucic is expected to don the No. 8 jersey for the Flyers, contingent on the finalization of administrative documents, according to the team.
The Flyers, established in 1938 and recognized as the UK’s longest-running ice hockey club, occupied the last position in the 10-squad British Elite League prior to Thursday’s scheduled matches.
The acquisition of Lucic occurs during a period of increased examination concerning player behavior outside of games within British ice hockey.
This week, the BBC announced that Cliff Pu, a forward for the Sheffield Steelers, was released by his squad after confessing to two charges of assaulting a female. The organization stated that Pu, who hails from Richmond Hill, Ont., is no longer affiliated with the team.
