Teen hockey player hit by another player's parent

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – After two teen hockey players slammed into the boards at a hockey game Sunday night, the father of one boy allegedly hit the other boy and caused a concussion.

The parents of the 13-year-old boy allege that the father either punched or slapped their son so hard that he fell to the ground, got a concussion and experienced psychological issues. Police told FOX 25 that they're in the process of pursuing charges.

Carolyn Korbin, mother of an 11-year-old hockey player, said, "There's also just a lot of pressure, parents want their kids to be on the best teams, and play with the best players and get scholarships."

Talk to any hockey parent and they'll probably admit that it is a very physical game, even at the younger level. And sometimes parents get caught up in the adrenaline rush of it all, but they say a parent allegedly laying a hand on a player during a game completely crosses the line.

"The person should be held accountable," Korbin said.

It allegedly happened Sunday night at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough. Thirteen and 14-year-old hockey players from the Springfield Holy Name Stars and the Junior Crusaders were in a heated game, when Springfield's center and a Worcester player slammed into the boards.

The coach of the Springfield team told FOX exclusively over the phone that the Worcester player's wrist was broken and his player was ejected from the game. But as the 13-year-old was getting off the ice, police and witnesses allege the other boy's father or guardian walked over to him and either smacked or punched him in the head.

Steve Walsh, hockey coach, said, "At the age you're talking about, I'm not surprised unfortunately; there are just too many incidents where parents are getting too involved."

The Springfield coach says he's never seen anything like it in his 20 years of coaching, and says there's no sort of history between the players or parents of the two teams. And another boys' hockey coach FOX spoke with says, sadly it might be time now to look for ways to ensure parents stay seated in the bleachers, where they belong.

"I think there has to be control from the referees especially with the game and look at facilities where you segregate the parents outside. You see some rinks in Canada where actually they're built where some parents are inside glass," Walsh said.

Police told FOX that the hockey rink has surveillance cameras in hallways and on the rink, but they did not catch this altercation because it happened just off the ice. Police also said that they expect to file a complaint against the father Wednesday and summons him to appear in Marlborough District Court. They did not say what the charges would be.

Cox Media Group