STONEWALL, Man. — Police have laid charges following a fight during a Manitoba bantam league hockey game last spring in which players attacked game officials.
Stonewall RCMP say a 13-year-old girl has been charged with assault and a 14-year-old girl is accused of assault with a weapon.
Both girls were playing for the Lake Manitoba First Nation from Dog Creek in a championship game against the Stonewall team.
Police say a puck was shot at all three referees and two of the three officials were physically struck.
Earlier reports said one of the linesmen was pummelled as he lay on the ice.
The accused are not in custody and are to make their first court appearance on Sept. 29 in Stonewall provincial court.
The hockey game last March at the Stonewall arena was stopped with 11 minutes to play in the third period because of the disturbance, which included parents fighting in the stands. Police cleared about 100 people from the arena.
There were no serious injuries.
Witnesses said the violence broke out while players were being escorted to the penalty box after a brawl. One fan who was at the game said the players’ behaviour was unacceptable, but was provoked by the officials.
Margaret Swan said the referees were pushing players from the Dog Creek First Nation throughout the game and made racial comments.
Several suspensions ranging from six weeks to a year were handed down in April.
