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Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 28, 2007

Probe into hockey brawl between 8-year-olds

A decision on whether to lay a criminal charge in connection with a hockey brawl involving eight-year-olds at a tournament in Guelph, Ont. will likely come on Wednesday, says a police spokesperson.

“It’s the interaction between the two coaches — whether or not that was a consensual fight or an assault,” Sgt. Cate Welsh of the Guelph Police told CTV.ca on Tuesday.

Niagara Falls Thunder coaching staff allegedly spat at a counterpart with the Duffield Devils, Welsh said.

But what had everyone talking is the bench-clearing brawl erupting at the game’s end on Friday, which involved such young players. Players for both sides belong to Novice AAA teams.

“This is a really rare incident,” Richard Ropchan, executive director of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association told CTV.ca, adding he can’t think of a similar one in his nine years with the OMHA.

“Certainly the fact that eight-year-olds are involved — well, that certainly got my attention.”

Ropchan added that the brawl “points right to the adults involved. You can’t blame the kids for that.”

Witnesses say there were cheap shots throughout the game, culminating with a fight. (Source: CTV News)