Jury rules in favor of Avalanche's Varlamov in civil trial

A verdict has been reached in a civil suit filed against Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov.

After hours of deliberation, the jury ruled in favor of Varlamov, clearing him of assault and battery, and ordering former girlfriend and plaintiff Evgeniya Vavrinyuk to pay $126,000 in damages, according to Tom McGhee of the Denver Post.

Varlamov lawyers: Vavrinyuk' claims were "groundless and completely unsupported."

- Tom McGhee (@dpmcghee) February 3, 2016

Varlamov was arrested on kidnapping and assault charges in October 2013, but they were dropped two months later due to a lack of definitive evidence. The civil suit was launched in October 2014, claiming Varlamov had beaten Vavrinyuk for years prior to the arrest.

The $126,000 is based on an "abuse of process" claim filed by Varlamov, while another counterclaim of malicious prosecution went in Vavrinyuk's favor.

The Avalanche host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, and the Associated Press reports Varlamov will back up Calvin Pickard.

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