The court case involving a former junior hockey player who was charged in connection with a golf club attack in Sault Ste. Marie that has since spawned a now-viral video will be discussed during a Crown pre-trial scheduled for early next month.
Joel Sandie — a former hockey player from the Sault who competed in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the early 1990s, prior to becoming a real estate agent based in London, Ont. — was criminally charged with one count of assault with a weapon for his alleged role in the attack, which took place at the Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club Sept. 2.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Sandie is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
A five-second video of the incident that was originally posted on Facebook has since generated hundreds of comments. It has since spread to other social media sites, including a popular Instagram page, ziregolf, that boasts 1.8 million followers.
The video of the incident posted on ziregolf has been shared more than half a million times since September.
During a first appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice Monday, a law student acting on behalf of Sandie's legal counsel advised the court that a pre-trial has been set for Dec. 1 in order to begin discussions with the Crown prior to the next court date.
The matter is scheduled to head back to court Dec. 4.
Sandie played a total of four seasons in the OHL, according to the Hockey Database website, suiting up for the Sudbury Wolves, London Knights and the now-defunct Cornwall Royals between 1990 and 1993.
