36-year-old hockey player suspended after video leaks of him attacking fans in the dressing room
A men's senior league hockey player named Justin Pender is in some serious hot water after he was caught on camera fighting fans who taunted him.
Following an altercation off the ice involving one of its top players in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Avalon East Senior Hockey League is attempting to handle its public relations. As the league works to maintain its brand in the face of growing worries about player behavior, a recent episode has sparked controversy.
The league has suspended Clarenville Ford Caribous assistant captain Justin Pender for reportedly getting into a physical altercation with supporters outside the team's locker room. Due to his aggressive performance against the HGOE CeeBee Stars, who were allegedly controlling the scoreboard, Pender had already been sent off the field. Tensions increased until violence broke out as a result of the taunts he received from spectators as he departed the rink.
One of the fans, John Drover of Bay Roberts, can be seen gesturing at Pender as the player enters the hallway from the ice surface.
Pender stops and throws the broken shaft of his stick at the fans from a distance of nearly 10 metres, and it lands harmlessly at Drover's feet.
Pender then starts walking aggressively toward the fans, fully clad in his hockey gear and already incensed from an earlier outburst on the ice in which he confronted the CeeBees' bench and smashed his stick on the leg of an opposing player as an official was escorting Pender off the ice. Video of that on-ice skirmish has been shared widely on social media.
Meanwhile, a young boy can be seen on the security video entering the hallway entrance, but quickly retreats when he sees Pender - who stands six feet four inches, weighs 215 pounds and has a reputation for playing an edgy, tough style of hockey - storming toward him.
However, Drover stands his ground as Pender reaches the end of the hallway. It's at this point that Pender, wearing his bulky hockey gloves, starts throwing punches at Drover.
Pender's teammate, Thomas Hedges, who was also ejected from the game, can also be seen running down the hallway behind Pender.
Some of the fracas is not captured by the security camera, so it's not clear if Hedges is throwing punches or trying to extricate his teammate from the melee. Caribous' general manager Ivan Hapgood is also seen walking down the hallway and out of the camera frame."
You can watch the fight video here
In senior hockey, where rivalries and intense emotions are widespread, these kinds of situations are regrettably not unusual. Physical altercations between athletes and spectators have long existed in the sport, despite the fact that they are unacceptable. Those who are familiar with Pender's reputation may not be surprised by this occurrence, as he has already been disciplined for his fiery temperament.
Because of his involvement with the well-liked Spittin' Chiclets ball hockey team, where he demonstrated an equally intense character, Pender's name may also be familiar to sports enthusiasts. Although his reputation and experience add to the incident's shock value, his actions might not come as a huge surprise to those who know him.
The event highlights the need for stronger rules on player conduct, particularly in emotionally sensitive settings, as the league deals with the aftermath. The success and reputation of senior hockey depend on players and fans interacting politely, even though fierce competition adds to the sport's thrill.
