Video of Sudbury hockey team's ice brawl goes viral
CBC News | Posted: April 2, 2015 8:04 PM | Last Updated: April 2, 2015
Thousands watch video of on-ice fight between Sudbury’s Onaping Falls Huskies and Mount Hamilton Blues
A major midget hockey team from Sudbury ended its season with a year-end tournament win in Branford on March 29, but that is not why the Onaping Falls Huskies are making headlines.
A video of the Huskies having an on-ice brawl with Mount Hamilton Blues has gone viral on YouTube.
It shows referees and coaches struggling to stop players — aged 16 and 17 — from tackling and punching each other.
"That's not what we promote in our league," said Leo Verilli, president of the North Eastern Hockey League, which oversees the Huskies.
"That's not what we promote in hockey at all."
League president 'disappointed' with Huskies
Verilli said he was appalled when he watched the video, but he said the incident wasn't unexpected.
"They showed this type of behaviour the whole season," he said.
Verilli said the league put sanctions on the Huskies during the season to double their suspensions in the hopes of preventing more fights.
He said the sanctions were working until the on-ice brawl in Branford. Verilli said the tournament was out of the leagues jurisdiction, which gave the team the opportunity to have a "free for all."
Team may face disciplinary action
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association are looking into the incident.
Verilli said players could face suspensions or expulsions.