LA Kings defenseman Voynov pleads not guilty to beating wife

TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov faces a March trial on a charge of beating his wife.

Voynov, 24, pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury at his re-arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court, City News Service reported.

The Russian Olympian was arraigned after his arrest Oct. 20 but had to go through the process again after a judge found earlier this month that there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.

A preliminary trial date of March 2 was set, and Voynov is due back in court Jan. 28 for a pretrial hearing.

The two-time Stanley Cup champ is accused of choking and hitting his wife and pushing her into a TV in their bedroom after an argument that began at a Halloween party on Oct. 19. A cut over her eye required eight stitches.

Voynov's wife, Marta Varlamova, wrote a letter to prosecutors saying her injuries were accidental, though a judge didn't accept that evidence during the preliminary hearing.

Voynov has been indefinitely suspended by the NHL while the case is pending.