Victoria Royals forward Taylor Crunk has been charged with assault causing bodily harm to a 20-year-old Duncan man.

The assault is alleged to have taken place just after midnight at a New Year’s Eve party in the 1600 block of Pear Street, said Saanich police Sgt. Steve Eassie.

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“From my understanding, the event was reported to us on Jan. 10. An investigation took place at that point. The information we received is that there had been an altercation which led to injuries to another party,” Eassie said.

Police have completed their investigation and sent information to Crown counsel, he said.

Crunk, who was 19 when the alleged offence occurred, is not in custody. He was released on a promise to appear in Victoria provincial court and is scheduled for a hearing on May 14.

Eassie said he did not know if Crunk and the alleged victim, whose name appears as Kieran Lauridsen on the court information, knew each other. The victim suffered facial injuries, said Eassie, who could not provide details of what happened.

“We support everyone who is involved,” said Royals general manager Cameron Hope. Crunk “is a member of our team and we support him,” he said. “When you are charged, you still have the presumption of [innocence]. That is what the court process is for.”

The Royals have five regular-season games remaining before they begin the Western Hockey League playoffs March 27.

Asked if Crunk will continue to play, Hope said, “we were made aware of the incident months ago. … A charge doesn’t change anything. People are entitled to carry on with their lives until the process plays out.”

Crunk was in the lineup when the Royals played in Kelowna on Wednesday night against the Rockets.

The six-foot, 212-pound Crunk, who is from San Jacinto, California, turned 20 on Jan. 20. He’s a rugged third-line forward in his fourth season with the Royals. He has spent his entire WHL career in Victoria, mostly as a checking forward, and has eight goals and three assists for 11 points in 65 games this season. He has also racked up 97 penalty minutes.

In total, Crunk has played 253 regular-season and playoff games for the Royals with 22 goals, 45 points and 279 penalty minutes.