Danton's Prison Time Saves a Life

Mike Danton, former NHL player, spent years in prison for plotting a murder. Back on the ice, he is using the lessons learned to save a life.

While playing for IFC Ore in Sweden, Danton watched his teammate, Marcus Bengtsson, hit the ice in a fit of convulsions. Relying on instinct and experience, Danton dropped down next to his friend and got to work. As soon as Bengtsson's jaw unclenched, Danton reached his hand in to prevent possible choking on the tongue.

"I have seen seizures before. In prison, druggies would come in off the streets and have withdrawals. So, when the convulsions did not (stop) after a couple of minutes, I knew something was wrong," said Danton.

Danton was convicted in 2004 on conspiracy to commit murder. David Frost, his former coach, was thought to be the target for Danton's hired hit man. It was later discovered that Danton's target was actually Steve Jefferson, his estranged father.

After playing for both the New Jersey Devils and the St. Louis Blues, Danton was sentenced to 90 months in prison where he took a first aid course and was certified in first aid response.

Denton must have paid attention in his lessons, because Bengtsson survived the incident and is recovering well in a local hospital.

"I know this is going to sound nuts, but I'm glad I went to prison," said Danton. "I don't like the length of time I went there for. But I'm fortunate for the opportunity, because the negative-slash-downward spiral that would have happened would have been 10 times worse. It saved me in a way."

For critics and judgmental hockey fans, this was Danton's way of proving that a man can change for the better.

Post-prison, Danton hit the books at St. Mary's University, where he also finally started to play hockey again. He has said that he plans to get his Ph.D. in psychology.

Has this athlete finally found the right path?

Read more here at the NY Daily News.