Memorable ‘NHL fans gone wild’ moments

A Toronto Maple Leafs fan jumps onto the ice during the late time out before he was asked nicely to leave as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at the Air Canada Centre. (David Cooper/Getty Images)

No one said every hockey fan is a calm, calculated soul who always makes smart decisions. Many are inclined to get rowdy, especially when the suds are flowing, and every now and again a select few decide hopping onto the ice is the perfectly natural thing to do.

That’s what happened Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre. Late in the third period of a 5-3 Lightning win over the Leafs, a fan jumped onto the ice and caused a scene.

No players or officials got involved in this particular incident and the fan didn’t put up a fight as he was escorted off the ice by security, but that hasn’t always been the case when similar stunt have been pulled in NHL arenas.

As you’ll find out below, that Leafs lush is very fortunate Ron Asselstine is retired.

Here are some memorable moments of hockey fans getting too involved in the game.

Linesman destroys fan to save ref

Back in the 1988-89 season, during a Bruins-Jets game at the old Boston Gardens, a fan climbed over the glass to confront referee Bill McCreary about a call he didn’t like. Linesman Ron Asselstine flew down the ice and bowled the fan over.

Ray fills fan with regret and right hands

During a Sabres-Nordiques game in 1992, a fan ran onto the ice and made his way toward the Sabres bench. A young Rob Ray didn’t take any chances and began filling the fan with punches as police were taking the man into custody.

Ray certainly didn’t seem too shaken up about the whole thing:

Fans join the celebration

In a scene more akin to a championship college football or basketball game, fans of the New York Islanders got involved in the celebration when their team beat the Minnesota North Stars to win the 1981 Stanley Cup.

Two minutes for stupidity?

In 2001, during an intense Leafs-Flyers game, Tie Domi got into an altercation with a Philly fan in one of the odder fan-spectator interactions we’ve seen. As Domi was being heckled in the penalty box, he squirted a fan with a water bottle and the fan didn’t like it. He charged Domi and flipped over the glass in a fit of rage. No punches were thrown, and the officials separated both parties. Domi was fined $1,000 for the incident.

Flames streakers

Fans in Calgary seem to love taking off their clothes and finding out what the Saddledome ice feels like. During a 2002 Flames playoff game, one fan knocked himself when he hit his head on the ice after he stripped down to nothing but a pair of red socks and hopped over the glass. In 2013, another Flames fan trotted out on the ice in some red undies.

Role reversal

It’s not always the fans who venture into the players’ territory. Sometimes it’s the players that go into the stands.

The most famous example of this is when several members of the 1979 the Boston Bruins ventured into the seats at Madison Square Garden and fought with fans. This of course is when Mike Milbury famously beat a man with a shoe.

Lakovic lets loose

The battle of Alberta took an interesting turn in 1996, when an Oilers fan poured a drink on Flames assistant coach Guy Lapointe. Enforcer Sasha Lakovic didn’t appreciate it and attacked the fan.

Unfortunately, instances like this happen in the minor leagues as well. Here are a few examples:

Fans hops glass, hits his head at Steelheads game

Fan fights member of Team Canada

Hockey mom runs on ice during fight

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