Like I always say, Slap Shot is a documentary. I first read about former New Mexico Scorpion David Cornacchia’s high-flying antics in the Dallas Morning News (via my boss at Texas Monthly), but let’s go with the local rag:

Florida Everblades defenseman David Cornacchia (above) will continue to play with the team until a verdict is reached regarding his alleged behavior on an American Airlines flight to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport on Thursday, general manager Craig Brush said Saturday….

Cornacchia was returning from a Christmas visit home to Toronto and planning to join the Blades in Biloxi, Miss., on Thursday to practice prior to Friday™s 8:05 p.m. game when the incident occurred.

According to an affidavit obtained by Dallas TV station CBS 11, Cornacchia became violent when flight attendants refused to serve him a third drink because he was œstumbling, unsafe and had slurred speech.

Cornacchia is accused of then slapping a male flight attendant in the face, exposing himself to nearby passengers and intentionally head-butting a passenger who attempted to restrain him.

When FBI agents came to meet the plane on its arrival in Dallas, Cornacchia told them that he™d had seven or eight alcoholic beverages that day, according to the affidavit obtained by CBS 11.

Hey, it wasn’t a game night was it? Though, if I were the ECHL, I’d be checking out the Everblades’ financials: most ECHL players can’t afford to buy that many drinks (and surely a membership in the Admiral’s Club would count against the cap).

Under terms of his arrest, Cornacchia isn™t allowed to leave the country or consume any alcoholic beverages. A Canadian citizen, Cornacchia is on a one-year visa to play pro hockey in the U.S. He is not allowed to do any other kind of work.

Hornung said if Cornacchia is found guilty, the charges potentially could affect his visa status and his right to remain in the U.S….

Known for his physical play and fighting ability, Cornacchia often was cheered at Germain Arena for picking fights and holding his own against much-larger opponents.

While that violence brought cheers on the ice, similar behavior off-the-ice has led to crisis for Cornacchia.

œYou see that in all of the contact sports, Brush said. œThere are rules on the ice and on the field … and there are (different) rules in society.

In 2006, 41 NFL players were charged with violent crimes and alcohol-related offenses.

Objection your honor! Relevance?

Cornacchia has since expressed contrition like a seasoned major leaguer (which is to say, he’s only halfway sorry, and his lawyer did more talking).