A former Kamloops Blazer defenseman has been charged after an incident of an assault on a toddler in downtown Kelowna over the weekend.

Giffen Nyren faces charges of assault and wilfully resisting a peace officer.

The charges come after a man grabbed a baby from a mother at Kerry Park, and fled police by taking off his clothes and jumping into Okanagan Lake.

Nyren has no previous criminal record, and according to court documents online he appeared in a Kelowna court room this morning.

The 30-year-old is originally from Calgary. He played two seasons for the Blazers between 2008 and 2010, and he played two years in Moose Jaw before that.

Since then, Nyren has played minor-pro hockey and pro hockey in Europe as well.