Another team takes a chance on former Flames prospect convicted of serious crime
Photo credit: Calgary Herald
Topi Ronni, whose rights were renounced by the Calgary Flames following a conviction on a serious crime, has managed to find a new employer for 2024-25
A former second round NHL draft pick has found a team willing to take him on after he was dropped by both the Calgary Flames and a team in the Finnish Elite League after he was convicted of se--al assault back in March. The Flames took Topi Ronni, now 20, 59th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but renounced his rights after his conviction.
"The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that they have renounced the rights to draft pick Topi Ronni after he was found guilty of a se**al ass*ult charge in Finland
Ronni was handed a one year suspended sentence by a court in Helsinki earlier on Tuesday."
Ronni was handed a one year suspended sentence by a court in Helsinki earlier on Tuesday."
In a release on Instagram, HK Dukla Michalovce of the Slovak Extraliga said it has signed Ronni for the 2024-25 season, and is well aware of his conviction.
"Of course we are aware that Topi made a mistake a few years ago for which he was punished. Our club decided to give him a helping hand and give him a second chance, which we hope he will use and prove his hockey qualities."
"It's not every day that we get young players who were drafted by NHL clubs in the 2nd round. Topi already showed how much he wants to play for us last season when he was with his family in Michalovce during the playoffs and watched our team to find out as much information about the club as possible."
"It's not every day that we get young players who were drafted by NHL clubs in the 2nd round. Topi already showed how much he wants to play for us last season when he was with his family in Michalovce during the playoffs and watched our team to find out as much information about the club as possible."
It's not the first time the Slovak Extaliga has taken on a player with a controversial past. The league has also signed Carson Briere and Mitchell Miller to contracts in recent years. Briere, son of Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere, was dropped from his college team after throwing a wheelchair belonging to a disabled woman down a flight of stairs during a party and breaking it. Miller was essentially blacklisted by the NHL after it came to light that he had been convicted in court of severely bullying a classmate in high school.
| POLL | ||
6 JUIN | 62 ANSWERS Another team takes a chance on former Flames prospect convicted of serious crime Will he ever make a return to the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 19 | 30.6 % |
| No | 43 | 69.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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