The Prince George Cougars have been fined $1,500 for failing to provide adequate security during a chaotic playoff hockey game this week.
During Wednesday night’s game versus the Penticton Vees, fans angry at the referees began throwing beer cans and other objects onto the ice while chants of “refs, you suck” rang out through the CN Centre.
A fight also broke out in the stands between a fan imploring people to stop throwing objects and one who did so despite pleas from the in-arena announcer to refrain.
The Cougars received a two-minute penalty as the result of fan behaviour that night, capping off several other penalties that led to anger among the hometown crowd, who are currently in the second round of the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs.
Ted Clarke, a sports reporter with the Prince George Citizen, said he’d never seen a night quite like that one.
“There’s no excuse for it, [but] it’s just a few people who ruin it for everyone,” he told CBC Radio West host Sarah Penton. “It was a nasty way to end a really good game.”
He suggested that at least some of the problems could have been mitigated if the WHL were to allow coach’s challenges and video reviews for penalty calls, as is allowed by the NHL and BCHL.
“I don’t know why they haven’t adopted it because it would have cleared [everything] up.”
A particularly controversial call was a five-minute penalty and game misconduct in the third period against Prince George defenceman Corbin Vaughan for checking to the head. Video replay indicated it was body-on-body.
Vaughn did not receive supplementary discipline from the WHL for the hit, indicating that after reviewing the play there was no reason for suspension.
However, Cougars forward Aiden Foster has received a two-game suspension for his hit, which was deemed illegal.
The WHL has not responded to CBC News’ requests for comment.
The Vees win tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2. Game 5 goes Friday in Penticton and Game 6 returns to Prince George.
