Matthew Barnaby - Personal

Personal

Barnaby is known for his affable character off-ice and is one of the league's most willing interviewees. While with the Penguins, Matthew was known for his charity work, being very fan friendly, and had a very loyal band of fans named the "Barnaby Brigade". He had a long standing feud with Lyle Odelein, Matt infamously referred to his longtime rival as "Cornelius," a reference to the Roddy McDowall character in Planet of the Apes. Barnaby lives in Buffalo, New York, where he and former Sabres teammate Rob Ray own a construction company.

He was arrested for domestic violence on May 13, 2011, in Amherst, New York. Barnaby was accused of causing an estimated $300 in damage after kicking a garage door in an attempt to enter the suburban Buffalo home where his estranged wife and two children live, Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita's office said. On May 14, 2011, he pled not guilty to felony criminal mischief and was ordered to complete 500 hours of community service to have charges dropped. As part of the ruling, Barnaby also was issued a one-year order of protection from his wife. He was barred from taking what was described as any "offensive" action against his wife, and also was ordered to avoid contact with his wife's boyfriend, the DA's office said.

Barnaby also was ordered to continue attending anger management counseling.

As part of the plea agreement, the misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and aggravated harassment were to be dropped if he fulfilled the judge's order within a year. . On December 5, 2011, Barnaby was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in New York. ESPN subsequently terminated his contract.

As of December 7, 2011, Barnaby potentially faces deportation from the United States after his DWI charge. On December 13, 2011, he pled guity to driving while intoxicated and as a result, must pay $1,500 in fines and serve 100 hours of community service.