The maximum time of imprisonment for this offence is 14 years.

The assault, which took place Feb. 23 last year, occurred after the victim arrived at a party at which Towtongie was drinking.

The two had a disagreement and a fight broke out which left the victim with a punctured lung where he was stabbed twice and a wound on his lower back. He was medevaced to Winnipeg, where he spent five days in hospital before he made a full recovery.

Towtongie had been in custody since the night of the assault.

Justice John Vertes said he took Towtongie's guilty plea into consideration when sentencing him.

"Even at a late date, I take it (the guilty plea) into consideration," he told Towtongie.

"If you hadn't pleaded guilty, you can be sure you'd be heading to a penitentiary for four and a half or five years."

Crown lawyer Douglas Garson had asked for nothing less than a penitentiary term, but Towtongie's lawyer, Peter Fuglsang, suggested two years less a day so that he could serve his sentence in the North.

Vertes said aggravating factors in the case included the fact that Towtongie had just got out of jail (September 1996) after serving just over 14 months for another assault when he committed this offence.

But he agreed with the defence, saying it would benefit him if he were allowed to serve his time in the North. He also said this was Towtongie's last chance to stay out of a federal penitentiary. "Believe me, with your record, if you commit any other offences, you will be heading to the penitentiary," he added.