AMHERST, N.Y. – ESPN hockey analyst and former NHL player Matthew Barnaby pleaded not guilty Saturday to charges stemming from an argument with his estranged wife at an upstate New York home.
The 38-year-old Barnaby was arrested Friday and spent the night in jail after being picked up at a home in Getzville, a hamlet in Amherst where his wife and two children live, police said.
He pleaded not guilty to five charges, including criminal mischief, criminal trespass and harassment, and was released on his own recognizance.
Barnaby said in a statement Saturday that the argument involved a "family matter" and didn't include physical violence or the threat of violence. He said the past few months have been difficult for his family since he and his wife have decided to divorce.
ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said the network is looking into the situation.
Barnaby broke into the league with the Buffalo Sabres and had a reputation as a league tough guy.
A native of Ottawa, Canada, he played for seven NHL teams before retiring in 2007 because of a concussion suffered during a fight.
Barnaby joined ESPN in 2008 as an NHL studio analyst and has been featured on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS and ESPN.com, his official website said. He lives in Buffalo.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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