Court fines former Czech national coach Vladimir Ruzicka

PRAGUE (AP) Former Czech Republic hockey coach Vladimir Ruzicka has been convicted of fraud and fined more than $15,000.

The Prague 10 district court ordered Ruzicka to pay a fine of 400,000 koruna ($16,600) or face a 16-month prison term.

Ruzicka accepted 500,000 koruna ($20,750) from a father who said he paid him to let his son play when he was in charge of Slavia Prague. He denied any wrongdoing, saying he considered the money sponsorship and later returned it.

Ruzicka still can appeal.

Ruzicka resigned from his post with the national team last year following similar allegations by other parents.

In his playing career, Ruzicka captained the Czech Republic to gold at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and played for the Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators in the NHL.