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Thrashers prospect Patrice Cormier pleads not guilty to junior hockey assault

Former Quebec junior hockey player Patrice Cormier has pleaded not guilty to an assault charge stemming from an elbow thrown during a game last season.
Patrice Cormier
Mikael Tam of the Quebec Remparts was listed in stable condition in hospital after taking an elbow to the head from Rouyn-Noranda centre Patrice Cormier

ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. — Former Quebec junior hockey player Patrice Cormier has pleaded not guilty to an assault charge stemming from an elbow thrown during a game last season.

Cormier was playing for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies last January when he dropped Quebec Remparts defenceman Mikael Tam with a blow to the head.

He was charged with assault causing injury.

The Atlanta Thrashers prospect was not in court in the northwestern Quebec town of Rouyn-Noranda on Monday when a lawyer entered the plea on his behalf.

The case resumes Oct. 19.

Cormier was suspended by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the remainder of his junior career and is currently at training camp with the Thrashers.

The New Brunswick native captained Canada’s silver medal-winning team at the 2010 world juniors.

Tam spent a night in hospital and then returned to the lineup shortly thereafter.