THE GOOD OL' HOCKEY GAME?
November 29th may have seen the Winnipeg Jets come away with a monumental 5-0 win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion, Colorado Avalanche.
Unfortunately, what happened in the stands that night is all that the hockey world is taking away from the contest.
The incident, which was all the buzz from the game, occurred at the beginning of the third period when three people suffered injuries due to a scrum breaking out between a number of fans. One of those who suffered injuries included a spectator who tried to assist security officers and ended up with head trauma from a hazardous fall into the boards.
*WARNING*
— CenterIceHockey (@CenterIcefb) November 30, 2022
The assaulted Jets fan was taken to hospital to treat his injuries, he's fine.
Two intoxicated Avalanche fans were arrested in Winnipeg last night and charged with: 4 counts of assault, assaulting an officer, resisting arrest. pic.twitter.com/Fqz8lTA07S
Reports state that following the incident, a man and a woman were arrested for assault during that night's Winnipeg Jets game.
Portage la Prairie resident Brent Budz was at the game with his family, right in the middle of the action.
"I just turned around and noticed that the security at the Canada Life Centre definitely had their hands full with two people that certainly did not want to leave," says Budz.
The Portager explains that the situation did escalate very quickly, causing him and several other spectators to step into action. At that time, one of those individuals who tried to help was tackled into the boards from several stairs up.
"Unfortunately, another individual that was helping did sustain some significant injuries. That's definitely not what you want to see, but at the same time, we certainly didn't want to see the physical abuse of the security guards at the game."
WPS arrest a 34-yr-old male and 28-yr-old female being evicted from a Jets game on Nov.29 and now face multiple assault-related charges. A 54-yr-old patron also sustained injuries when he intervened in an attempt to assist security. @CanadaLifeCtr https://t.co/eRn4xzkUrJ
— Winnipeg Police (@wpgpolice) November 30, 2022
Budz recalls being in the moment and needing to try to defuse the ongoing situation.
"I just tried to assist, and then after the injury sustained to the other fan, was really just trying to ensure that no additional injury or trauma could occur to this individual. So, it was quite an event and not the kind of thing that you want to see happen, it was certainly an isolated incident.“
The former Portage City Councillor of 12 years adds that he hopes True North, the company that oversees the Canada Life Centre, takes the appropriate steps to reduce the likelihood of a similar event happening again.