Ice hockey star Shaquile Burgoyne avoids jail after assaulting fellow player at Adelaide Oval

An Adelaide ice hockey star bashed a fellow player at Adelaide Oval during a drunken brawl, leaving him unconscious and fleeing the scene.

A South Australian ice hockey star hit another player who had just gone professional with such a forceful punch that he was left unconscious and housebound – before fleeing the scene.

Shaquile Burgoyne, 25, appeared in the District Court last week where he was sentenced for his involvement in a group brawl outside Adelaide Oval in October 2021.

The player for the Kaurna Boomerangs – SA’s Indigenous ice hockey team – previously pleaded guilty to intentionally causing harm to another.

In sentencing, Judge Geraldine Davison said the single punch was “life-changing” and had left the victim housebound and reliant on people around him – after he had been drafted to a professional ice hockey team.

The punch came after a drunken brawl sparked by an uninvited guest.

“During the course of the melee, you punched the victim once,” Judge Davison said. “You did this forcefully. It caused him to fall backwards, landing headfirst on to the ground whilst facing upwards. He was rendered unconscious.

“He has no memory of the events but suffered serious injuries on this night.

“While not all the injuries are the consequence of your offending, it is the case that he must deal each and every day with those injuries.

“The complainant lost his licence for many months along with his independence and had to rely upon the people around him; he was housebound for many months and had strong medication.

“This event, as I have said, has been catastrophic for many people.

A file image of the Kaurna Boomerangs in action. Picture: Dean Martin

“The victim and his family have had to change their lives and deal with the consequences.”

Judge Davison said Burgoyne was a member of Indigenous ice hockey team the Kaurna Boomerangs, and the victim – also a keen ice hockey player – had recently been drafted to play professionally in Adelaide.

The brawl occurred as a group of people left an event at Adelaide Oval about 12.30am.

“One of the uninvited guests who was intoxicated said something to the complainant and then punched him to the face,” Judge Davison said.

“Other people then jumped on him causing him to fall to the ground. He was repeatedly punched to the face.

“There was some interactions between the complainant and your brother. You then stepped in.

“One of your brothers then intervened and it was submitted that you thought the complainant was going to do something to him and you responded with a forceful punch.”

She said Burgoyne then left the scene without checking on the victim’s welfare.

Judge Davison said she took Burgoyne’s personal circumstances into consideration while sentencing – particularly his involvement in setting up the Kaurna Boomerangs team.

Burgoyne was sentenced to two years, four months and 16 days with a non-parole period of one year and two months, which was suspended upon him entering a good behaviour bond for three years.

Originally published as Ice hockey star Shaquile Burgoyne avoids jail after assaulting fellow player at Adelaide Oval