Massive hockey brawl results in broken bones, somber cleanup video
Oct 12, 2010, 11:37 AM EDT
I don’t know a lot about minor league hockey, but I’m told it can be much more violent than the NHL variety, and that the Central Hockey League in particular is pretty much known as a “goon league” (see: Slap Shot). But Saturday’s brawl between the Odessa Jackalopes and host Colorado Eagles in Loveland went beyond the limits of violence even for a minor league game. From the Huffington Post:
Within the first two minutes of the final period, six fights occurred until Colorado’s Brad MacMillan reportedly nailed Odessa’s Dave Van Drunen in the face immediately after a faceoff. The hit broke Van Drunen’s jaw and nose.
The resulting melee included a forfeit by the Jackalopes, five fighting penalties and even the filing of police charges. Unfortunately there is no video of the actual fight, but there is this weird, surreal YouTube video of the aftermath, in which a somber cleanup crew mops up blood and debris on the ice to the soundtrack of what I can only surmise was a movie about The Plague.
Video following the jump.
According to ReporterHerald.com, Van Drunen, who was taken to a hospital after the game, returned to the team on Monday with a surgically repaired jaw, nose and face.
Jackalopes owner Rick Gasser pressed for assault charges to be filed against MacMillan and asked for him to be arrested three times during the game, according to the Odessa American. Although Gasser’s requests were rejected, he said he will still “ask the league for a lifetime ban for MacMillan.”
From a July post on the Eagles’ web site, when MacMillan joined the team:
“Brad will bring a lot of energy to the rink and has a proven track record of not backing down from anyone,” said Assistant Coach Greg Pankewicz. “His character and championship pedigree will be a great addition to our locker room, and I’m looking forward to bringing out what we feel is some untapped offensive potential.”
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CHL Brawl Ends With Broken Bones, Police Action: Report [Huffington Post]
Central Hockey League: Jackalopes owner files charges over incident in Colorado [OAOA.com]
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- Seriously? - Oct 13, 2010 at 1:35 PM
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You are right. You do not know much about Minor League Hockey. It is where men play for the game not money. Play 80+ games a season for just enough to buy groceries and gas while getting hit more than a football player 4-5 times a week. Yes, bad things happen. A guy can bleed. But, until you see the video of the WHOLE situation, do not pass judgment. Did the guy say something? Is this preseason? Was there a cheap shot from one of his teammates? You do not know. This is no different than a pitcher throwing at a batter. There is a chance that pitch can injure someone severely much like I believe that punch was to send a message, not to injure. I would know because I have been apart of those situations. BTW- a goon league? It’s not a league for sippin’ tea but but calling it a goon league is showing your obvious support of the softening of America. Stick to tennis instead of sensationalizing hearsay and tarnishing one of the last great pure sports.
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- RR - Oct 13, 2010 at 6:53 PM
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From all accounts, MacMillan jumped (sucker punched) Van Drunen while he was unprepared or not looking. Not part of the code, and definitely not the time of character the league is looking for.
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- z - Oct 13, 2010 at 9:03 PM
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The game was filled with fights and just prior to the dredded MacMillan punch Odessa’s Bootland tried to sucker punch Beaty of the Colorado Eagles after the play and while his back was turned. That is what “set it off” in my opinion. Any game with back to back to back fighting majors tells me watch your back especially after your team just tried to throw a cheap shot. The tone was set well before the line brawl took place for sure. Sorry Van Drunen got hurt but any number of players on the ice that night could of gotten the same on both sides.
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- Seriously? - Oct 14, 2010 at 1:03 PM
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MacMillan must have thrown the first sucker punch in all of professional sports!?! Yeah Right. I’m sure Van Drunen’s Heavy weight has never thrown a sucker punch. Yes, sucker punches are BS! But if he threw it to follow up a similar action, that IS part of the code. “You sucker mine, I’ll sucker yours. You hit my tender, I’ll hit yours.” That is the way all of hockey is. You say it may not be type of character the league is looking for but I will tell you that it definitely is the type of character every player in the league is looking for to have on their team. Try playing on a team without this type of character. I will tell you from experience- It downright sucks. The injuries that happen are ten times worse because there is no consequence to offenders other than a penalty, if they get caught. First thing you learn in hockey are the rules- second thing you learn, how to break them. The unwritten rules are there for a reason and the team that allows for liberties to be taken will receive much worse over the course of the game and the season. Do you think other teams won’t know what set it off? Can you imagine playing against either one of these teams if there wasn’t reciprocity? One, the Eagles will be taken advantage of all season long knowing they are not going to do anything and two go after Odessa to tell them they may push other teams around but you won’t do that to us. The results of the broken nose and jaw are unfortunate but a necessary evil to keep the game clean. Without it sticks would come up and guys will be losing their eyesight and more. You can fix a nose and a jaw but I have not heard of anyone healing the blind.
