NL hockey player suspended after repeatedly punching fan who taunted him

The opening of the new Avalon East Senior Hockey League season was marred by an off-ice altercation between some players and fans at Harbor Grace; The city council promised serious consequences for those involved, and the visiting team criticized the security measures and availability of security measures. Alcohol at Danny Cleary Community Centre.

The match between the guest team Clarenville Ford Caribous and the host HGOE CeeBee Stars on October 26 turned into a penalty shootout in the third period, and CeeBees gained a score advantage over their opponents.

The tension was broken with less than 10 minutes left when Clarenville’s Justin Pender, one of the league’s best players, reacted violently to some taunts on his way to the locker room after being ejected from the game.

Pender was suspended three games by league officials. Mayor Don Coombs confirmed Monday that Pender and one of the fans involved in the incident may also be banned from entering the town-owned arena.

WATCH | A veteran hockey player has been given a three-game suspension, but some say that’s not enough:

See Clarenville senior hockey player repeatedly punches fan after being ejected from game

After Clarenville’s Justin Pender was ejected from an Avalon East Senior Hockey League game on Oct. 26, he was jeered by fan John Drover, who was one of four fans heading to the hallway near the locker rooms. CBC’s Terry Roberts reports on the violent altercation that sparked outrage off the ice and calls for tighter security measures.

“I was shocked,” Coombs said of the security camera footage that captured the incident.

“Whatever the reason, you can’t go into public buildings and behave like that.”

The city council is scheduled to meet Tuesday to vote on the site liaison committee’s recommendation.

“Actions taken will have consequences,” Coombs said.

Pender threw a broken stick at fans

CBC News has obtained a copy of security camera footage showing four male fans making their way to the hallway entrance below the stands where the locker rooms are located.

One of the fans, John Drover of Bay Roberts, can be seen pointing at Pender as the player enters the lane from the ice surface.

Pender stops and throws the broken handle of his bat at the fans from a distance of about 10 meters, and the bat lands harmlessly at Drover’s feet.

Pender then begins walking aggressively towards the fans, dressed in full hockey gear and already enraged from an earlier outburst on the ice in which he confronted the CeeBees’ bench and smashed his stick into an opposing player’s leg as a referee escorted Pender away. off the ice. Video of the confrontation on the ice was shared widely on social media.

Meanwhile, in security video, a young boy can be seen entering the hallway entrance, but quickly retreats when he sees Pender, who stands 5-foot-11, weighs 215 pounds and is famous for playing a sharp, tough style of hockey, storming off. towards him.

But when Pender reaches the end of the corridor, Drover stops in his tracks. It’s at this point that Pender, wearing his big hockey gloves, starts punching Drover.

Pender’s teammate Thomas Hedges, who was ejected from the game, can also be seen running after Pender in the corridor.

We stand up for childhood friends

Some of the confrontation was not captured by security cameras, so it is unclear whether Hedges threw a punch or tried to save his teammate from the melee. Caribous’ general manager, Ivan Hapgood, is also seen walking down the hallway and out of the camera frame.

Pender declined to comment when contacted by CBC News, but John Drover spoke briefly when reached by phone Monday.

When asked about the incident, Drover said, “It is.”

Drover said his “spur of the moment” decision to taunt Pender stemmed from the fact that Pender was targeting his “childhood friends” on the ice.

Drover stated that he had no remorse for his actions and said, “Someone has to take care of a man like that.”

When asked what he said to Pender, Drover said he “asked what the problem was.”

Drover said Pender hit him once, but he was not injured.

“You win some, you lose some,” Drover said, adding that town officials had contacted him about a possible ban on the Harbor Grace arena.

Hapgood supports Pender

Meanwhile, Hapgood said he had not seen the video and did not condone the violence. However, he criticized the field management for not providing better security to the players. Hapgood said he also witnessed alcohol being consumed in the arena, which may have fueled the situation.

A town official confirmed that the arena is licensed to sell alcohol.

Hapgood, who strongly defended Pender’s character and place on the team, said: “I believe that with appropriate security measures in place, the incident would never have happened.”

Pender, 36, who is in his eighth season with the Caribous, won the senior hockey championship with the team in 2018 and was named the league’s best defenseman last season. He played semi-professional hockey in the ECHL and four seasons of major junior hockey in the QMJHL.

He’s an imposing presence on the ice with his big frame, bushy beard and hockey style, but he’s also a skilled player who often takes the scoresheet into account.

A quick internet search shows Pender is no stranger to fisticuffs on the ice, and he also plays for St. Louis. He reveals that he caused a stir at the 2013 world ball hockey championships in St. John’s by starting a fight against a superior Czech Republic team in the semifinal match. It resulted in a long-term suspension by Canadian Ball Hockey.

Despite his reputation, Hapgood called Pender “a great ambassador” admired by Clarenville fans and said Pender was “80 percent ahead of everyone else on the team.”

“I will be there for him until the day he dies,” Hapgood said.

Caribous is appealing Pender’s three-game suspension, and Hapgood said he would not comment on possible sanctions imposed by the city council.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Harbor Grace hopes a similar incident won’t happen again at any arena in the country.

“We hope people still feel safe coming into the building and we will do the best we can as a council,” Coombs said.

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