A staged fight broke out during the Hershey Bears’ Mites On Ice intermission segment at Giant Center in Hershey, prompting an investigation and garnering mixed reactions online.
On Saturday, players from the Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club began to fight one another. No officials attempted to break up the brawl.
Video of the incident shows the crowd cheering on the youth players, ages 8 and under.
“This intermission game was not sanctioned by USA Hockey or the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association,” said a statement from the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association on social media. “Affiliate, league and club officials are investigating the matter and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.”
The subsequent comment section — which had over 500 comments on Monday morning — was full of people condemning the association’s reaction to the brawl.
“It was the best intermission games ever. And both of my kids have done them. Let kids be kids and actually have fun,” wrote one user on a Facebook post.
“Omg, those kids will remember that as one of the greatest days growing up,” said another user.
“Lol oh please, everyone who ever played has thought of this idea, and these kids implemented it. They’re legends,” wrote a user on Facebook.
The fight got the attention of Barstool Sports, which posted a blog under the headline “Somebody hit somebody.”
“What an unbelievable tilt between these two teams. Everybody grab a partner and just start chucking. Haymakers galore. Bodies flying everywhere. Pure and total carnage,” the post said.“This is what it’s all about.”
But not everyone is on board with the theatrics.
Some commenters brought up safety concerns regarding the fight.
“The one big problem is if a kid caught a skate to (the) neck, wrist or anywhere else that could’ve been bad. Then the comments on here from the same people would be way different,” said a user on Facebook, under the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association post.
Ted Bird, a podcaster from The Terry and Ted Podcast, took to social media to express his dislike of the stunt.
“I’m surprised and disappointed at how widely this is being celebrated on social media. I think it’s sad and pathetic. They’re little kids,” Bird said.
The Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club also released a statement Sunday on Facebook.
“The safety, well-being, and positive experience of all participants — especially our young players — are of the utmost importance,” said the statement.
The AHL’s Bears released a statement as well.
“What occurred during last night’s youth scrimmage involving one team (split into two sides) held during an intermission of a Hershey Bears game did not reflect the values of the sport or the standards we expect when young athletes are on the ice,” the Bears’ statement said.
