Former Toronto Maple Leaf player Rick Vaive was cleared of an impaired driving charge in an Ontario court Thursday, nearly three years after the charges against him were laid.
Vaive, 52, was charged in July 2009 as he drove home from a charity golf tournament in Gravenhurst to his home in Oakville.
Prosecutors said that Vaive was driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.
The court heard that Vaive had been driving erratically before being pulled over.
During the trial, which took place in a Newmarket court, Vaive said that he normally didn't drive after having three drinks.
But he admitted to getting behind the wheel after having six beers during the charity golf game on July 14, 2009.
But Vaive told the court that he felt sober enough to drive.
Outside court, Vaive's lawyer, Calvin Barry, said this wasn't some lucky break.
"He was acquitted because he should have been," Barry said.
Barry said the trial was tough on his client and that Viave told him he was glad to have it over with.
"He said he's happy, and it was a lot of pressure off him," said Barry.
In the early '80s, Vaive became the Leaf to score 50 goals in a season. He did so the next two seasons, as well.
