Update: Hockey Dad Who Shoved Teenage Referee's To Be Charged
Photo credit: HockeyFeed
During the NHL break we have found some ridiculous footage, as a Seattle Hockey Dad assaulted two teenage referees and has been charged with two misdemeanors.
A Seattle Hockey Dad who took "defending his son" too far by shoving two teenage hockey referees ages 12 and 14, has been charged by local police.
The Sno-Kings and Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association were involved in the investigation, regarding the assault which happened in a U12 Hockey League in Kirkland, WA.
"The video we are sharing is difficult to watch, but it is crucial that we confront the seriousness of what happened," PNAHA said in a statement. "This incident serves as a stark reminder of why maintaining a safe and respectful environment in our sport is so essential. Hockey is a game of passion, but there is absolutely no place in our sport for the kind of egregious and outrageous behavior that occurred during a 12U Rec game here in Washington, where a parent went onto the ice and physically assaulted two young officials-a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old. In my over 40 years in hockey, I have never witnessed anything so completely unacceptable."
According to ABC News, the man involved in the assault was angry that the referees let his son get punched, and kicked by his opponent. The lack of action led to the enraged parent storming the ice, and shoving both officials in question.
According to a police report obtained by ABC News, the accused man claims he "acted in defense of his son" after his son with involved with an altercation with an opponent. The man told police that his son, "was punched and kicked for about thirty seconds" by his opponent "and the referees did nothing to stop the assault."
After the assault, the father would leave the arena and would later be picked up by the police. He wasn't far from the arena when the arrest occurred and was cooperative with the police, stating he didn't know the two referees were children.
The Seattle Police Department would recommend the case to the Law Department and are considering charging the man with two counts of misdemeanor assault.
Update on the Referees
The Hockey Dad would face outrage over the internet, as the footage took the community by storm. The video went viral, as the dad whose son played in a U12 Rec League in Kirkland, WA for the "Sno-Kings" would shove the two officials, resulting in both of them getting up and looking puzzled by what just happened.
The parent would be denounced by the Sno-Kings organization.
"We at Sno-King, along with our state association and all of its members, stand with our on-ice officials and off-ice volunteers. There is no room for behavior like this and it will not be tolerated," said the team in a statement.
After the fallout of the incident, the Seattle Kraken organization stepped in to reward the boys who were assaulted with tickets to a game after the Four Nations Face-Off break.
It's a nice gesture from the Kraken, as the local hockey community is understandably outraged after the actions of an unruly parent, an assault that should've never occurred.
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