After seeing some discussion about this on the list, I thought everyone on
the list would be interested in the following article. It appeared in the
December 7th Potsdam-Massena (NY) Courier-Observer from the AP newswire.
(Reprinted without permission)
----Begin article----
Hamilton Fans Going Too Far
Clinton, N.Y. (AP) - Hamilton College ice hockey fans carried a home-opener
tradition too far and as a result have been banned from the school's next
home game.
College President Eugene Tobin announced Monday that only the families
of team members will be admitted to Hamilton's game Friday against Hobart.
Closing the game to other spectators was a response to fans' actions at
the team's Nov. 18 opener in Sage Rink when they littered the ice with
oranges, apples, live mice, a dead squirrel, kielbasi and a life-sized
inflatable doll following Hamilton's first two goals against Wesleyan. No
one was injured.
The game had to be delayed 10 minutes while the ice was cleared.
Hamilton was assessed two two-minute penalties for delaying the game.
"I regret very much that our players and coaches, their opponents, and
innocent hockey fans will suffer as a result of these actions," Tobin said.
"At the same time, however, I believe that some extreme antisocial acts
warrant censure," he said. "The continuation of such behavior is
unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
College spokesman Mike Debraggio said Tuesday that it had been a
longstanding tradition at Hamilton to throw tennis balls at the opposing
goalie after Hamilton scored its first goal in the home-opener.
"It seems to have escalated to the point where people are trying to
outdo each other," he said.
Hamilton fans bombarded the ice twice with objects because the
Continentals scored just 26 seconds into the game while fans were still
entering the arena and the late-comers did not have a chance to participate,
Debraggio said.
School administrators conducted an intensive investigation that resulted
in a number of offenders stepping forward to admit their involvement,
Debraggio said.
Those involved will be dealt with through the college's judicial system,
Tobin said. Possible disciplinary actions include a letter in the student's
file to probation, Debraggio said.
Even though the tradition is only performed in the team's home opener,
administrators felt the conduct was so reproachable that it was necessary
to send a clear message that it would not be tolerated, Debraggio said.
"We don't feel that these actions will continue. This is an attempt
to make sure it doesn't," he said.
If it does happen again, Tobin said the arena would be immediately
cleared of all spectators.
----End of Article----
As an arena employee at Cheel Arena for the third season now, I have seen
only two things thrown on to the ice by the crowd during a game -- a cup
of soda thrown by and angry fan of the visiting team, and a hat (after a
hat trick goal was scored). The soda-thrower was escorted from the arena
and arrested, and I'm not quite sure what happened to the hat thrower. I
can't imagine what they would do if something like what happened at Hamilton
occurred. It's kinda hard to pick individuals out in a crowd of 3000+.
As has been said on the list before, though, this can be dangerous to the
players, so *something* has to be done when it happens. I just can't see
schools that average 2000 or more fans per game just ban these fans from
attending a game (the schools want the $$$). Has any Div. I school ever
banned all fans from attending a game for this type of incident? How do
other Div. I schools handle this sort of thing?
I can't help but feel sorry for the people who have to clean this stuff up.
But I sure as heck would have loved to see them try to catch the live mice!
BTW, any opinions expressed are not those of Clarkson University or Cheel
Arena (like they would really trust me.....)
****************************************************************************
Christopher Cox | The Knight humor magazine - Clarkson's
Clarkson University '95 | only *intentionally* humorous publication!
[log in to unmask] | Get your copy today!
****************************************************************************
Note: This account will be inactive from December 16 to January 10.
****************************************************************************
|
