SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 21: Valeri Nichushkin #13 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on January 21, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin, who has not played since Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal, was named in a police incident in Seattle last Saturday on the day of Game 3 at Climate Pledge Arena, the Denver Post reported on Thursday.
Bennett Durando and Shelly Bradbury reported in the Post that a woman was found so intoxicated in Nichushkin’s hotel room on Saturday that an Avalanche team doctor called for an ambulance to transport her to a hospital, while the woman also struck the team doctor.
The Post reported the team doctor did not want to press charges, and the woman was transported to a hospital after officers found she was too intoxicated to take care for herself.
According to The Post, Nichushkin, the woman, and team doctor were listed as “involved” parties but Nichushkin is never quoted in the police report. Seattle Police Department spokesperson Judinna Gulpan said there is “no criminal investigation” in connection to the incident, The Post reported.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound forward from Chelyabinsk, Russia originally left the team due to “personal reasons” according to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. Nichushkin did not play in Game 3 last Saturday in Seattle, and there is no reported timeline available on Nichushkin’s possible return.
Nichushkin scored a game-tying goal as part of Colorado’s game two rally and a 3-2 victory over the Kraken, splitting the first two games of the series in Denver. He scored 17 goals and racked up 47 points this regular season, his fourth with the Avalanche, and was a part of their Cup winning squad last year with nine goals in 20 postseason games.
The Kraken lead the Avalanche in the best-of-seven series, 3-2, with Game 6 ahead on Friday, 7pm PT at Climate Pledge Arena.