BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A sports story, on a rather sour note, to Vancouver, Canada. Judge's verdict expected later today in the hockey violence trial of Marty McSorley. The former Boston Bruin charged with assault for knocking an opponent unconscious during a game last winter. To Vancouver, British Colombia now, CNNSI's Sonia Steptoe to bring us up to date there. Sonia, what is happening with the latest in this case?</s>SONIA STEPTOE, CNNSI REPORTER: Bill, in about 30 minutes, in the courthouse behind me, Judge William Kitchen is going to render his decision in the case. McSorley, of course, is charged with misdemeanor criminal assault for hitting Donald Brashear in the head with his hockey stick during a game last February. Now, is assessing McSorley's guilt or innocence, Judge Kitchen is probably going to have to set a standard for the reasonable behavior by professional hockey players. That is because of the way the two sides have framed their arguments in this case. The defense argues that McSorley's hit was an accident, an unintended consequence of life in the brutal, fast-paced world of the NHL. The prosecution counters that McSorley's hit was intentional. That even if it wasn't intentional, hitting Brashear in the upper torso area, near the head, was reckless. He called it "excessively violent, even in the violent sport of hockey." Now if the judge buys that theory of the case, the prosecution's theory, McSorley faces up to 18 months in jail. But more importantly, the sport of hockey, for the first time, will have a legal standard for how professional hockey players have to behave.</s>HEMMER: Quite possibly could change the rules of the game too. Sonia Steptoe, live there in Vancouver, thank you.
Verdict Expected Later Today in Hockey Violence Trial of Marty McSorley