Former Arizona Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk has announced that he will be participating in the NHL Player Assistance Program after his arrest in Scottsdale, Arizona on July 9. Galchenyuk faced multiple charges, including private property hit and run and threatening or intimidating.
According to a local CBS affiliate, Galchenyuk was taken into custody following a hit-and-run incident. Allegedly, he drove a BMW sedan over a curb and hit a sign in a parking lot. Galchenyuk’s behavior was described as “heavily impaired” and he became aggressive towards the arresting officers, making threats towards their families.
On Tuesday, Galchenyuk publicly apologized for his actions through a letter on social media. He expressed deep regret and condemned his behavior as offensive, uncalled for, horrendous, embarrassing, disrespectful, and simply awful.
Galchenyuk admitted that his actions were influenced by alcohol and emphasized the importance of taking responsibility for his “horrendous moment.”
In his apology, Galchenyuk wrote, “I have let all of you down and I am genuinely sorry. Although this behavior is not a reflection of who I am, I recognize the need to be accountable for it. My actions have resulted in the loss of the opportunity to pursue my passion for professional hockey.”
Galchenyuk also disclosed that he will be entering the Player Assistance Program in order to seek the necessary help.
Galchenyuk had recently signed a one-year contract with the Coyotes on July 1, but the team has decided to terminate the contract following the incident. The Coyotes released a statement strongly condemning Galchenyuk’s behavior.
