A Seattle man is facing misdemeanor assault charges after shoving two junior referees—ages 12 and 14—onto the ice during his son's hockey game on Sunday, in what police have described as an "unprovoked" attack.
The man claimed he was acting in defense of his son, who he alleged was being punched and kicked by an opposing player while referees failed to intervene, according to a police report obtained by ABC News. However, police state that there was no fight at the time of the incident and that the game had already been stopped.
Witnesses and video footage show the man walking directly toward one referee and shoving him hard enough to knock him onto his back. He then allegedly did the same to the second young official. Both referees, wearing protective gear, suffered minor injuries to their hips and elbows but did not require hospitalization.
The suspect fled the rink but was stopped by police shortly after. He claimed he was unaware the referees were juveniles and said he would cooperate with the investigation.
The Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association condemned the attack, with President Jody Carpenter calling it "egregious and outrageous behavior" that has no place in the sport.
"The video we are sharing is difficult to watch, but it is crucial that we confront the seriousness of what happened," Carpenter stated on social media. "This incident serves as a stark reminder of why maintaining a safe and respectful environment in our sport is so essential."
The organization has launched an internal investigation and reiterated the importance of sportsmanship and respect for officials.
Originally published on Latin Times
