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The Crown has charged the son of hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy with assault in connection with a brawl last season that triggered national hand-wringing over violence in the sport.

A single count of simple assault was laid Thursday against junior goaltender Jonathan Roy in Quebec Court in Saguenay.

Mr. Roy, a backup goaltender for the Quebec Remparts, is the only person facing charges in the March 22 incident, when he stormed across the ice to pound on the opposing goaltender, Bobby Nadeau.

A number of fights broke out on the ice, but the image of Mr. Roy beating on the prone Mr. Nadeau caught worldwide attention.

Jonathan Roy and his father and coach Patrick Roy were suspended by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League over the playoff incident.

“The investigation of this case is now closed,” said Saguenay public security spokesman Jean Boily, adding that any further charges would come from the Crown prosecutor's office.

The 19-year-old hockey player's next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16.

A conviction under the summary offence has a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of $2,000.

Prosecutor Juli Drolet said the Crown's directorate of prosecutions “exercised its discretion” in deciding to lay just one charge and to avoid a much more serious indictable offence.

She said she could not confirm whether any other charges might be laid.

The Crown had requested an investigation by local police in Saguenay last spring during the public uproar over the brawl.

Images of the hockey brawl were replayed around the world.

Patrick Roy, a former NHL star and hockey icon in Quebec, came under severe criticism. Television images showed the elder Mr. Roy waving on his son, although the teenager denied he was pushed into fighting.

Mr. Nadeau, the goaltender for Chicoutimi Saguenéens, accepted the blows without resistance, lying on the ice while shielding his head with his hands. His heavily favoured team went on to be eliminated by the Remparts.

Mr. Nadeau later explained that his coach, Richard Martel, had instructed him to protect himself should a brawl break out.

Pressed by the provincial government, QMJHL president Gilles Courteau promised to crack down on hockey violence.

Scotty Bowman, a legendary former NHL coach who has his own spot in the Hall of Fame, said he understands why authorities felt the need to intervene in the case. But much worse things have happened on the ice over the years without legal repercussions, he said.

“But that's the fishbowl you're in now,” Mr. Bowman said. “The league did suspend him, you'd like to keep it in-house if you can, but society has its own rules, too.”