Mike Danton, an ex-NHL player who is serving time for trying to have his agent killed in a bizarre murder-for-hire plot, has been transferred to a Canadian prison to finish out his U.S. federal sentence.
Danton, who grew up in Brampton, Ont., had been serving a 7 1/2-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison in Sandstone, Minn., where he had been incarcerated since pleading guilty to murder conspiracy charges in November 2004.
But the 28-year-old was quietly returned to Canadian authorities on March 19 after petitioning for a transfer for the past three years.
On Wednesday, Correctional Services Canada spokesperson Holly Knowles said Danton's remaining sentence will now be determined by Canadian authorities.
"Essentially, he's subject to Canadian law now, which means there can be changes in terms of the sentencing length," Knowles said. "According to our sentences, he has reached his (parole) eligibility date."
Carol Sparling, a National Parole Board spokesperson, said Danton would automatically be granted a parole hearing at some point in the future, as he reached full parole eligibility the day that he was transferred to Canadian authorities.
"When someone is past their full parole eligibility date, the board is required to conduct a hearing -- the offender doesn't have to make an application," Sparling said.
When Danton pleaded guilty in November 2004, it was not publicly revealed who he was trying to have killed. But prosecutors have said in open court that the plot targeted his former agent, David Frost.
Frost, however, has denied that he was Danton's intended victim.
Danton is now listed as a contributor to Frost's Hockey God Online -- a website launched last fall, which claims to be "hockey's most knowledgeable source."
Last November, Frost was acquitted at a Napanee, Ont., trial of the sexual exploitation of two junior hockey players that he used to coach.
And in February, Frost was acquitted of the fraudulent use of Danton's credit card.
Frost previously represented a small list of NHL players as an agent -- including Danton -- but he resigned as an agent in 2005.
Danton played for both the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils in parts of three NHL seasons. In his 87-game career, he scored nine goals, five assists and racked up 182 penalty minutes.
He was drafted by New Jersey in the fifth round of the 2000 NHL Entry draft.
TSN reported late Tuesday that Danton "is now seriously considering a return to professional hockey."
With files from The Canadian Press
