Karl Hjelholt, 24, who was convicted of aggravated assault for throwing a man over a railing, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison in a Guelph court.

The former University of Guelph football player, once described as the strongest man ever to play for the team, was convicted earlier this year in connection with the 2009 incident.

During Frosh Week celebrations in 2009, Hjelholt was drinking with friends at a downtown bar when the confrontation occurred.

He was reportedly speaking with a young woman on the street when Christopher Freutel, who had also been drinking, allegedly insulted him.

Hjelholt then apparently picked Freutel up and dropped him over a railing. Freutel fell more than three metres, his skull was cracked and he suffered serious brain damage.

Crown prosecutor Steve Hamilton says "I thought it was an appropriate sentence to deal with the unfortunate consequences to the victim and his family and it's a really an unfortunate case in that we have two families now that have had their lives significantly altered."

Hjelholt's lawyer did not wish to comment following the sentencing on Monday.

Freutel's family also declined to speak on camera, but told CTV News it has been a terrible ordeal for everyone and they just want to get on with their lives.

Freutel continues to suffer from irreversible conditions that include memory loss, mood swings, inability to concentrate and the loss of all sense of smell.

Hamilton says the brutal crime was fuelled by testosterone and too much beer.

"It's hoped that the lesson goes out that alcohol can lead to such things if it's not used wisely, that lives can change in a moment, blink of the eye."