Hockey Brawl

RCMP investigates hockey brawl after player, 17, cracks skull

Canwest News Service Published: Wednesday, February 25, 2009

LEWISPORTE, N.L. -- A major hockey brawl in Lewisporte, N.L., that left a 17-year-old player with a cracked skull has triggered a criminal investigation, RCMP said Wednesday.
Lewisporte RCMP said they had assigned an officer to investigate whether criminal charges should be laid in the Feb. 14 brawl which sent a player to hospital for surgery.
The exhibition midget hockey game between the Fogo Island Hawks and the Lewisporte Sea Hawks in Lewisporte ended with an explosion of fists involving players on both sides. Both teams have been suspended until Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador concludes an investigation of the incident, said Craig Tulk, the organization's executive director.
"This is a concern for us and the situation of the injury," said Mr. Tulk. "We are going to have to seriously look at this as it relates to discipline."
The injured Fogo Island player had multiple fractures of his skull that required metal plates to be inserted, said Mr. Tulk.
Mr. Tulk said this was the first time a team has been suspended for fighting since his organization instituted automatic suspensions for teams involved in after-game, on-ice brawls two years ago.
Midget level hockey involves players aged 15 to 17.
Lewisporte is about 395 kilometres north of St. John's.