Clayton Stoner Charged with Killing Bear

Anaheim Ducks player Clayton Stoner has gotten himself into some legal trouble. It all centers around what authorities in British Columbia, Vancouver allege took place during a hunt Stoner participated in back in 2013. Now, he’s been charged with illegally shooting a grizzly bear.

To make things worse for Stoner, his legal trouble is on course to interfere with his season with the Ducks. His next court date is set for Oct. 9, a day before the 2015 season kicks off for his team. It’s a distraction Clayton and his teammates don’t want to be dealing with right now.

Clayton has also been charged with two counts of knowingly making a false statement to obtain a hunting license. The statements are alleged to have been made back in 2013 when Stoner played for the Minnesota Wild.

That’s not all of his problems though.

He also faces charges for unlawfully possessing dead wildlife, hunting without a license, and hunting out of season. The slain bear, named ‘Cheeky’ by locals, was identified from online photos of Clayton holding its severed head.

Here’s a documentary about the bear’s death.

Some would argue that Clayton’s defiance when the pictures of him holding the bear’s head surfaced certainly didn’t help him avoid legal issues.

"I grew up hunting and fishing in British Columbia and continue to enjoy spending time with my family outdoors,” Stoner said. “I applied for and received a grizzly bear hunting license through a British Columbia limited entry lottery last winter and shot a grizzly bear with my license while hunting with my father, uncle and a friend in May. I love to hunt and fish and will continue to do so with my family and friends in British Columbia."

Stoner is yet to comment on his legal troubles, but what is clear at this point is the fact this story is going to be something the defenseman will have to deal with all season. Only time will tell if the 30-year-old is able to handle the pressure and still have a productive season.