Zoltan Hetenyi has been suspended by the Rivermen without pay after being arrested for sexual battery and disorderly conduct. (Photo: Sarah Fuqua/flickr)
Goaltender Zoltan Hetenyi was acquired by the Rivermen exactly one month ago on February 19th as a throw in when Scott Ford was traded to the Milwaukee Admirals in the Predators organization. Along with Hetenyi, the Rivermen also picked up Jani Lanjunen and Andre Bouvet-Morrissette in the deal.
Hetenyi attended the Predators training camp in January but was on an AHL contract and assigned by the Rivermen to the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL where he served as a back up goalie. This weekend the Solar Bears were visiting the Gwinnett Gladiators for games on Friday and Sunday. Hetenyi started in net on Friday night and took a 3-1 loss. And from there, the situation did not improve.
He was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with “three counts of sexual battery and one count of disorderly conduct.” (Gwinnett Daily Post)
According to separate warrants, Hetenyi, 25, was at the Arena Tavern from about 1:30 to 3 a.m. Sunday when he “grabbed (a waitress’) buttocks with both his hands,” “grabbed the victim’s buttocks a second time” and grabbed “the victim’s breast with his hands.”
The warrants also accused Hetenyi of screaming that “he hated all Americans” and black people, using the n-word.
Hetenyi posted the $7,400 bail and was released from jail on Monday night.
Jail is not the only thing he has been released from, however, as the Solar Bears have taken it upon themselves to inform Hetenyi that he is no longer with the team. (Orlando Sentinel) In addition, the Rivermen have suspended him without pay. (@icetimecleve)
As a throw in, Hetenyi has never played for the Rivermen, nor was he ever intended to. Though his loss is not a large one, hockey-wise, the incident is nevertheless disgusting. I am glad that both teams involved took swift action to condemn Hetenyi’s misdeeds and made no attempt to apologize for or cover them up as we have other professional sports teams do all too often. Thank you Solar Bears and thank you Rivermen.
