Three days after he was arrested and charged with drunken driving, Wild assistant coach Darryl Sydor has voluntarily entered the NHL/NHL Players’ Association Substance Abuse/Behavioral Health Program.
Sydor, 43, was charged Friday afternoon with two counts of second-degree driving while impaired, both misdemeanors. He was arrested on Thursday on Highway 65 and Medtronic Boulevard in Fridley. His 12-year-old son was reportedly with him at the time.
His blood alcohol content was revealed to be .30 percent – nearly four times the legal limit for driving.
Sydor, who has previously acknowledged problems with alcohol, will spend at least the next 30 days and possibly longer in treatment.
Wild assistant coach Darryl Sydor now in 30 day inpatient treatment following drunk driving and child endangerment charges.
— Leah Beno (@LeahBenoFox9) August 24, 2015
According to the Star Tribune, Sydor’s attorney said the Wild assistant coach flew to Malibu, California on Sunday and admitted himself into an inpatient treatment center
“He’s hurt, he’s upset, he’s embarrassed by his actions, and his family is too,” Sydor’s attorney Ryan Pacyga told the Star Tribune, Monday. “Right now, it’s about Darryl taking care of himself and really getting his arms around this.”
Sydor spent 18 years in the NHL where he won two Stanley Cups and remains employed by the Wild. However, the Star Tribune reports that the team wouldn’t comment on Monday on whether Sydor will return to the team after his time away.
He has spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach for the Wild.
Following the incident last week, the team issued a statement saying, “We are aware of the reports regarding Darryl Sydor. We are continuing to gather information and will have further comment at the appropriate time.”
Wild training camp begins Sept. 17. Sydor would still be in treatment then.
