The Toronto Maple Leafs were not informed of Ian White's brush with the law last weekend and learned of if only when CTV broke the news on Thursday.
White, 22, was charged with driving while disqualified after Toronto police stopped him for not wearing his seatbelt before the Leafs' game last Saturday. The native of Steinbach, Man., had his driver's licence suspended for a year in September after he was convicted of impaired driving in the summer of 2005.
Leafs general manager John Ferguson found out about the latest incident when the television network called a club spokesman seeking a comment. Ferguson said he was upset that he wasn't informed earlier. "It came to my attention [on Thursday]" he said. "He's acknowledged a mistake and I've been assured that it won't happen again."
White stood up and apologized to his teammates yesterday before the Leafs' game against the Washington Capitals, but did not address the issue with reporters until after Toronto's 7-1 win.
"If I was just a regular guy, it wouldn't be a big deal," he said. "It comes with the territory, and I have to accept the consequences.
"It's in the past. I'm here to play hockey, that's first and foremost."