League Counseling Program to Meet With Karalahti

At the request of the NHL’s counseling program, defenseman Jere Karalahti was called back to Southern California for talks after being late to a game-day meeting on Sunday at Detroit.

The story that day was that Karalahti overslept. It was learned Tuesday that the tardiness was alcohol-related.

Karalahti, who has a history of heroin abuse that included an arrest and rehabilitation in his native Finland, volunteered for the program while petitioning the Immigration and Naturalization Service for admission into the United States in the summer of 1999. A King source said that he has been tested regularly for drugs and has passed every test.

Karalahti, 25, also has a history of alcohol abuse, and that was the reason for the league’s concern. He returned to Southern California late Monday night, and counselors were to talk with him Tuesday.

“We contacted them because of his being late . . . and because of his background,” said Kevin Gilmore, the Kings’ assistant general manager. “They urged us to send him back.”

Gilmore stressed that the move was precautionary, and that Karalahti was expected to rejoin the Kings soon. Coach Andy Murray said Karalahti would be at practice today.

King players were largely mum on the issue, emphasizing support.

But “he needs to realize what he might be throwing away,” one said.

When Karalahti was late to the Sunday meeting, he was sent back to the hotel in Detroit and was scratched from the game. The Kings quickly summoned Rich Brennan from their AHL affiliate in Lowell, Mass. Karalahti practiced with the Kings on Monday before the call to Southern California came, but Murray said then that Brennan’s play merited a start in Tuesday’s game against Colorado.

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Winger Glen Murray was activated for Tuesday’s game, with Brad Chartrand being optioned to Lowell, but that could change overnight. Because no flight could be found to get Chartrand from Denver to Lowell, he was to accompany the Kings back to LAX and go out today.

But when winger Nelson Emerson suffered a concussion when boarded by Chris Dingman in the opening period of Tuesday’s game against the Avalanche, Chartrand’s lot could have changed. More will be known when Emerson is examined today.