Former Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko arrested on DUI charge

Updated: July 19, 2006, 8:57 PM ET
Associated Press

SPARTA, N.J. -- Former New Jersey Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko was arrested for drunken driving in May and will face charges next month.

The 42-year-old Daneyko retired in 2003 after a 20-year NHL career, spent entirely with New Jersey. He took a leave from the Devils during the 1997-98 season to confront an alcohol-abuse problem.

Daneyko appeared in Sparta Township municipal court Monday to face charges of driving while intoxicated, careless driving and failure to maintain lane. The case was not settled and Daneyko is scheduled to appear again on Aug. 7, township Prosecutor Andrew Fraser said Wednesday.

If convicted, Daneyko would face a fine of up to $400 and would be required to take an educational class on drinking and driving. He also could lose his license for up to a year, pending on the level of alcohol in his system at the time of his arrest, Fraser said.

Sparta Township patrolman Marc Rubino stopped Daneyko just after midnight on May 20 after observing his Toyota Land Cruiser being driven erratically, Fraser said.

Sparta police did not release details on Daneyko's arrest until a request from The New Jersey Herald of Newton on Tuesday.

Daneyko, who won Stanley Cup championships with the Devils in 1995, 2000 and 2003, played in a team-record 1,283 regular-season games.

The Devils retired his No. 3 jersey on March 24, a little more than a month after retiring the jersey of fellow defenseman Scott Stevens.

Daneyko spent three months during the 1997-98 season in rehab to deal with what he called a problem with binge drinking.

"Alcohol is my problem," Daneyko said then after returning to practice. "I was a binge drinker."


Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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