Darryl Sydor, the Minnesota Wild assistant coach arrested last week on suspicion of drunk driving after he was pulled over while driving his son to a youth league hockey game and determined by police to have a BAC of .30, has entered a treatment facility, according to Michael Russo of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Sydor has also voluntarily entered the NHL/NHL Players' Association Substance Abuse/Behavioral Health Program.
Sydor, who revealed to the Tribune last season that he was a recovering alcoholic, flew to Malibu, CA on Sunday to admit himself into an inpatient treatment center, his attorney Ryan Pacyga informed Russo on Monday. Sydor will spend approximately 30 days - and quite possibly longer - there.
"He's hurt, he's upset, he's embarrassed by his actions, and his family is, too," Pacyga said, via Russo. "Right now, it's about Darryl taking care of himself and really getting his arms around this."
Sydor is facing two gross misdemeanor counts of second-degree driving while impaired, combined with two aggravating factors - the endangerment of a child and having a blood alcohol content over .16.
Pacyga has spoken with a lawyer for the Wild and is also in contact with the league. Sydor remains employed by the team, but the franchise has done nothing other than comment on the fact that it was aware of his arrest.
"He's upset how he's hurt others through his conduct here," Pacyga said, per Russo. "He's so worried about his family and the team right now. I told him, 'You've got to take this time to work on you because without you being good with you, none of that other stuff is going to be around anyway. So have the courage to be vulnerable and have the courage to go deep inside yourself where you don't want to go.' "
Wild training camp starts Sept. 17, meaning Sydor will still be in treatment when the team convenes for the first time ahead of the 2015-16 NHL season.
