Mark Bell Classic

The second annual Mark Bell Classic hockey game will take place at the St Marys, Ontario Arena today. As well as Mark Bell, originally from St Paul, Doug Gilmour, Boyd Deveraux, Aaron Downey and others will play a 2-period game. Local retired players Terry Crisp and Walter Tkaczuk will be among the coaches. An autograph session takes place at 6:30 with the game starting at 7:30. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for 16 years and under.

Sportsnet.ca has reported that on Tuesday Mark Bell pleaded no contest to drunk driving causing injury and hit and run in San Jose, California. He is expected to be sentenced in October to 6 months in county jail to be served after the 2007-08 hockey season.

Last September 4 Bell rear-ended a pickup stopped at a stop sign then fled on foot. Police found him a km away and breathalized him. He had blood-alcohol level of 0.20 per cent. In California, as well as here, the legal limit is 0.08 per cent.

UPDATE:   As a result of the jail sentence, at the end of August, Mark Bell was placed in Stage 2 of the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse and behavioral health program, which also meant he was suspended without pay.   On Sept. 12, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman suspended Bell for the first 15 games of the season for conduct 'dishonourable, prejudicial to or against the welfare of the league or the game of hockey.'   Bell should be eligible to play Nov. 4 for the Maple Leafs against Ottawa, assuming a positive report from the substance abuse program.