Ex-Leaf enforcer loses job after vicious slash

Former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Andre Deveaux, fights with Dallas Stars Krystofer Barch in 2008, delivered a vicious slash to an unsuspecting opponent prior to a Swedish pro game. (Jim Ross/CP)

It is one of the most violent and intentional acts you’ll see committed on a hockey rink, and now Andre Deveaux has lost his job because of it.

Playing for Rogle BK, a second-tier Swedish professional club based in Angelholm, the former Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers enforcer delivered this nasty slash to Vasteras IK captain Per Helmersson prior to the teams’ qualification game:

Rogle announced Monday on its website that the club has terminated Deveaux’s contract.

“We as a club condemn the incident,” team chairman Hakan Eriksson said via statement (Google translated). “It is an unacceptable behavior and nothing we as a club [stand] behind.

“His actions are indefensible.”

Deveaux’s slash was apparently in retaliation to Helmersson’s unpenalized hit on Deveaux in a previous game.

“How bad was it?” Deveaux said, according to a translated story from Viasat Hockey. “He played the game and he played today.”

The 31-year-old Deveaux, whose NHL stint lasted 31 games, scored six goals and added three assists while registering 67 penalty minutes this season, his first and last with Rogle BK.

(with files from QMI Agency)

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