Man charged, players barred following hockey brawl

A 21-year-old hockey playerhas been charged with assault following an off-ice brawl involving players, refereesand parents in a Calgary arena.

Police announced the charges Monday morning, just as Hockey Calgary revealed it had suspended two players and barred a parent from attending minor hockey events in the city in relation to the same incident.

The violence broke out after a Junior B game between the North East Athletic Association Canucks and the North West Calgary Athletic Association Bruins at the Stu Peppard Arena in southwest Calgary on Oct. 22.

An on-ice altercation carried over off the ice as players and officials headed down the narrow hallway leading to the dressing rooms. A linesman was knocked out by a kick to the head.

Police Insp. Blake McWilliam said several eyewitness accounts had provided enough evidence to lay an assault charge.

"The linesman in question saw a scuffle ensuing off-ice at the gate area at the arena," he said."He immediately went over to break up the fight. At that point … a number of people were pushing and shoving. He was knocked down and physically assaulted."

Police are asking the public for any video or pictures from the event, and haven't ruled out the possibility of laying additional charges.

Suspensions announced

Hockey Calgary, the city's minor hockey association, announced Monday it had suspended two players following the incident forabout two years each, which ends their time in minor hockey and will carry over to allHockey Alberta-sanctioned teams.

"If they were to register for a men's league or a senior men's league in the province, the suspensions would carry on," said Murray Briceland, the general manager of Hockey Calgary.

A parent has also been barred for a year from attending any minorhockeyevents in the city.

Briceland said thebrawl was an isolated incident.

"When we sorted through all the facts and got down to what really happened, there were only a handful of people involved and they have been dealt with," he said. "So this shouldn't have any effect on the reputation of the Junior B league or hockey in Calgary or anywhere else," Briceland said.