National Hockey League

Domestic violence charges against Avalanche goalie Varlamov dropped

Published Dec. 20, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

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Prosecutors said Friday that they are dropping a domestic violence case against Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov because they have new information leading them to believe they couldn't win a conviction.

Varlamov was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault after his girlfriend told police he knocked her down with a kick, stomped on her chest and dragged her by her hair at their apartment on Oct. 30.

The girlfriend, Evgeniya Vavrinyukat, also accused him of telling her that he would have beaten her more if they had been in Russia, where he is from, authorities said.

Lynn Kimbrough, a spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney's Office, declined to offer specifics on the new information that led prosecutors to drop the case. She said it surfaced from additional interviews with witnesses.

''This is not an indication that we didn't believe our victim,'' Kimbrough said. ''It is ... simply not having the ability to prove it.''

Vavrinyukat's attorney, Robert Abrams, had no comment, his office said.

Varlamov's attorney, Saskia Jordan, called the decision ''a just result'' and said Varlamov was pleased.

Jordan said Varlamov thanked the Avalanche, their fans and the Russian Federation for their support. A spokesman for the Avalanche declined to comment Friday.

Varlamov, 25, has been free on $5,000 bond and has been traveling and playing with the team. He could have faced a sentence ranging from probation to two years in jail if convicted.

He is 16-8 with a 2.37 goals-against average this season.

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