Andre Deveaux sat sullen-faced in front of the gathered media, ready after more than five weeks to defend what many have called indefensible: his pre-game attack on Per Helmersson, in which Deveaux charged behind the Swedish defenceman, slashed him in the leg with his hockey stick and threw a punch at his head before they fell to the ice.

The former Toronto Maple Leaf from Welland, Ont. was playing for Rögle BK in the Swedish second-tier league at the time of the incident. He said Friday that he acted out of fear and self-defence after Helmersson checked him from behind in the previous game and knocked him unconscious. Deveaux said that blow gave him a concussion that may end his career, though he didn’t know that when he returned to play in the next game.

“I’m out there with a serious injury and guys are telling me they’re going to do it again. At some point my safety has to become a priority,” said Deveaux.

He added that he had “no intention” of hurting Helmersson, who is the captain of the VIK Västerås HK team, but that he felt he had to do something to protect himself.

“I’ve been around the block and I know the difference between chirping and threatening,” he said.

The 31-year-old, who has played as an NHL enforcer for the Leafs and New York Rangers, was suspended from the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and released from his team following the incident in late March. Officials in Sweden allege the on-ice attack amounts to assault and have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Deveaux said Friday he has a lawyer in Sweden and has offered to co-operate with an investigation by prosecutors in that country.

He then accused the Swedish media and hockey association of “bias” and pointed out that Helmersson was never penalized for checking him from behind.

“Helmersson hasn’t faced any consequences for his actions,” Deveaux said. “He hit me hard, right in the numbers where we’re told never to hit.

“This isn’t right and this isn’t fair . . . I’m a Canadian and I deserve to be treated fairly in Sweden.”

Deveaux made his case during a news conference at a downtown Toronto hotel, with his wife Anya Nordstrom at his side. After reading from prepared statements, the couple invited the media to watch video of Helmersson checking Deveaux into the boards. The images then showed Deveaux lying still on the ice before he was carried into the locker room.

Asked whether the injury may have affected his judgment, Deveaux said he’s not sure.

“I responded to what happened to me,” he said. “I’m not proud of what I did and I understand there are consequences, but I’m not sorry for protecting myself when no one else would.”

In the weeks since, Deveaux said he’s had trouble sleeping, suffered from migraines and has been acting “weird” because of a concussion that was diagnosed by three doctors and a neurologist. He also described how when he returned to Canada, he collapsed and passed out at his brother’s house. He had to be rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

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He said he had an MRI scheduled in North York later Friday.

Nordstrom said her husband hasn’t been the same since he was hit by Helmersson, and asked people to look beyond his reputation as a hockey tough guy.

“Andre is not violent. He does not have a temper. He is a kind and loving husband, brother and son,” said Nordstrom, who is expecting a baby boy with Deveaux. “We simply ask that all sides of this story be considered.”

Deveaux was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2002, and played for Toronto in 2008-09 and New York in 2011-12 before leaving to play in Russia and Sweden.