SEATTLE — Players, coaches and fans looked on in disbelief as a parent assaulted two young referees during a youth hockey game at the Kraken Community Iceplex in Northgate on Sunday.
The video shows a man shoving one ref, then immediately another, with both falling to the ice.
The game was played between the Junior Kraken and Sno-King youth teams, both of which are operated by the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association.
Watching the video, PNAHA President Jody Carpenter said he was disgusted and disappointed.
“This is an adult going after a minor, which in my book, is inexcusable,” said Carpenter.
According to an SPD report, the over-40 parent who went onto the ice was angry over how the young referees – ages 12 and 14 – handled a brief fight involving his son.
Then told police he didn’t realize the refs were kids.
After the attack, the parent left but was later detained and released by police, who said they would recommend assault charges.
Both referees were ok.
“Never seen a person go on the ice in my 40 years of hockey, go after 13-14-year-old kids before, which is shocking, to say the least,” said Carpenter.
The Sno-King Amateur Hockey Association is also taking action, saying “Sno-King strongly believes there is no room for poor behavior from any person at youth sports that endangers players, coaches and referees and has suspended this individual from Sno-King ice arenas and any Sno-King related event.”
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