Terrible scenes unfolded this past weekend in a U12 rec-league game, as an enraged parent walked onto the ice during a stoppage in play and assaulted two young officials. The dad has since been charged with assault, and the story has gone viral in the hockey world. Now, the Seattle Kraken are stepping in to support the young officials with a heartwarming gesture.
A video from the game in Kirkland, Washington, spread rapidly online, with fans outraged over the disturbing incident. The footage shows a parent slowly walking onto the ice while play was stopped, heading toward the officials. The referees, aged 12 and 14, were shoved hard to the ice by the enraged parent, who then simply walked away and left the arena.
Shortly after the video gained traction, one of the teams involved, the Seattle Sno-Kings, issued a statement condemning the parent’s actions.
“We at Sno-King, along with our state association and all of its members, stand with our on-ice officials and off-ice volunteers. There is no room for behavior like this, and it will not be tolerated,” the team said in a statement.
Seattle Kraken’s awesome gesture
According to ABC News, the man now faces misdemeanor assault charges. He claimed he “acted in defense of his son,” alleging that his son was “punched and kicked for about thirty seconds.” He believed the officials failed to intervene properly, which led him onto the ice.
However, multiple witnesses and video evidence contradict his claim. According to reports, no fighting was taking place at the time. The police report also stated, “there was no fight at the time, and the game was stopped.”
The hockey world has been outraged by the incident, and now the Seattle Kraken are looking to do something special for the two young officials affected. According to NHL insider Jeff Marek, the Kraken are “planning something special for them.”
“The Seattle Kraken will be inviting the two young officials who were assaulted over the weekend, along with their families, to a game after the break. Sounds like they’re planning something special for them. Major s/t to the Kraken,” Marek wrote on X.
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