Imagine being a national superstar athlete, playing in the National Hockey League for twelve years and winning two Stanley Cups- all while only being 32 years old. So basically, imagine being Jarret Stoll. Only dedication and hard work has gotten this Los Angeles Kings Center to be the player he is today, and for him, it seems to have paid off. Although Stoll has held a successful and fulfilling life on the ice, would he ever even consider taking a risk to commit an act that could completely ruin his entire career forever? Apparently so.
A few weeks ago, Stoll was arrested in Las Vegas for accusation of having cocaine and ecstasy pills on him. Police searched the hotel room he was staying at at the MGM Grand and found what seemed to be 3.3 grams of cocaine on him, as well as several capsules of ecstasy in his back pocket. Regarding Stoll’s illegal possession of the drugs, he was arrested. However, a strange action was made later on that same day. He was set free on bail with a 5,000 dollar bond. One might say that the whole situation was no big deal, and that since Stoll is a famous athlete, nothing should happen to him. Another might say that Stoll’s actions were completely ridiculous and out of hand, and that he should be arrested. Here is what some Sea Kings had to say about the incident.
“This whole situation is just completely bogus,” says junior Kyle Mashy. “The King’s season is over… the whole incident was a bunch of baloney.” Mashy is glad that nothing came out of the whole situation. “I really am happy that nothing happened to Stoll… he is a key player in the Kings lineup, and if we want to do well in next years regular season, and playoffs, we need him.” Even though Mashy wants Stoll to perform next season, there is a slight chance that he won’t even return to the Kings. “Stoll is unfortunately up for free agency… if the Kings really take this incident for account to get rid of him, then that’s completely ridiculous.” Although Stoll was bailed for the Clark County Jail in Las Vegas, police have reported that the hockey player will have to face court on July 1st for the incident that occurred. Mashy says, “Stoll is a good guy and meant no harm, this whole thing just shouldn’t have happened to him.”
Although some Sea Kings have made the decision that Stoll shouldn’t be arrested, other students believe that he should. “Are you kidding me? The guy had drugs on him,” says junior Cassidy Najarian. “I don’t care what the circumstances are… you can’t not arrest him it’s just not right.” Najarian is certain that Stoll should have been arrested, and is upset that nothing happened to him after all. “I love the Kings, don’t get me wrong… but if any player is caught with 3.3 grams of cocaine and ecstasy, he shouldn’t get away with it. It’s illegal.” Najarian is also upset of how easy Stoll got out of jail in the first place. “ It’s insane how someone can be off the hook so easy… people look up to Stoll, he is an icon for some kids… you shouldn’t look up to anyone that uses drugs or even has drugs on them for that matter.”
It is clear to say that students have their own personal opinion about the situation that happened to Stoll. However, there is no final decision about what could or what could not happen to Stoll. “The office is awaiting the results of toxicology reports on the alleged narcotics and we will likely not have those results for several weeks,” says Tess Driver, the Clark County district attorney’s executive assistant. The drugs that were found on Stoll are reported to be cocaine and ecstasy, however there can be no final inferences or decisions made until the tests prove that the drugs seem to be what they really are. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said, “We’ll look more into the circumstances and facts in it, and we’ll see if any further or different action is required.”
Even though Stoll is freed from jail, Daly has put Stoll on the league’s substance abuse program temporarily. No actions can be made about what really happened to Stoll until the police’s drug tests come back in. Now, only time will tell if this hockey star will continue his career on ice, or behind bars.