Former NHLer Nick Boynton misses Buffalo court date, begins addiction treatment

Nick Boynton is seeking help.

The former NHL defenseman missed a court date in Buffalo on Wednesday, but his attorney, Keith B. Schulefand, assured the judge his client was seeking outpatient treatment at an addiction treatment center in Arizona.

Boynton was scheduled to appear at a pretrial hearing for misdemeanor charges of assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and obstruction of governmental administration stemming from a drunken incident at a Buffalo casino in March. He's also charged with disorderly conduct and harassment.

A police source told James Staas of the Buffalo News that Boynton is accused of "pushing patrons, calling women insulting names and fighting with officers after casino personnel cut him off from the bar around 1:45 a.m. because of his intoxicated behavior."

He allegedly bit a a police officer in the skirmish.

Boynton, who had been in Buffalo as a member of the Arizona Coyotes' radio broadcast team, is scheduled to be back in court May 8. The team put him on a leave of absence after finding out about his arrest.