Jean-Francois Jomphe, Former Anaheim Duck, Scrums at Laguna Beach Fast-Food Drive-Thru


A duck with a leaf walks into a fast-food restaurant . . . and leaves in handcuffs. Actually, retired hockey players Jean Francois “J.F.” Jomphe of the Anaheim Ducks and Richard Anthony Costello of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers were not inside the Laguna Beach Jack In the Box restaurant where a scuffle broke out early last Friday, Dec. 21, but that bloody center ice known as the drive-through line.
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Before 1 a.m., 39-year-old Aliso Viejo resident Jomphe and his pal of Dana Point Costello, who is 10 years older, were riding in a cab that cut off a VW Jetta in the drive-through line. One of the young adults in the Jetta yelled out something that he punctuated with a certain finger.


That's when former center Jomphe is alleged to have done the equivalent of bouncing off the bench, jumping over the wall and starting a scrum. Laguna Beach Police say he went after the hand gesturer, smashing the Jetta's back window in the process. A shard is said to have injured a 20-year-old in the back seat.


Costello, also a retired center, went to restrain Jomphe, but when a 44-year-old man police described as “good Samaritan” tried to explain the Jetta occupants were just kids and get the ex-hockey players back into their cab, Costello is accused of taking a swing at the guy and trying to kick him. He missed.

Police arrived in time to arrest Jomphe and Costello on suspicion of assault, book them into jail and kick them loose on their own recognizance pending a looming court date.

Jomphe played mostly for Anaheim during his four NHL seasons, which also included stops in Phoenix and Montreal. He spent many more seasons in the lower leagues and also played in Europe and with the Canadian National team. He was once married to the heiress of the Smith food store chain.

Costello was drafted by the Flyers in a cup-of-coffee-eh career that had him playing in 12 games from 1984 to 1986 with the Leafs.

Should we knock anyone off this list to make room for these guys?

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