The assault trial for Jonathan Roy, son of the legendary goaltender Patrick Roy, has been postponed until August 17 when the defense will argue for the case to be thrown out.
The trial had been scheduled to begin Monday morning at the Saguenay courthouse but a judge granted the delay after defense lawyers filed a motion to have the trial stopped.
The lawyers say Roy's rights have been violated because he's the only member of both teams to be charged for the brawl-filled game between Quebec City and Chicoutimi on March 22, 2008.
Roy, of the Quebec City Remparts, was charged after pummeling an opposing goalie during the game as his coach and father appeared to egg him on.
If convicted, Jonathan Roy could face a maximum fine of $2,000 or six months in jail.
If the judge rejects the motion to stop the trial, the proceeding could begin in October.
Fight sparked debate
The video of Roy pounding on a defenseless Chicoutimi goalie made national headlines and re-kindled the debate about violence in hockey. The provincial government subsequently ordered the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to review its fighting rules.
The league insists it has since cleaned up its act and it's promised a minimum 15-game suspension for the worst offenders.
The QMJHL's penalities for Jonathan Roy and his father were criticized as being too lenient.
Jonathan Roy received a seven-game suspension and Patrick Roy got five games for encouraging his son to fight.
