Brawl Breaks Out During Mites on Ice Game in Hershey
During Saturday night’s Mites on Ice game in Hershey, Pennsylvania, chaos erupted on the ice, overshadowing the event’s wholesome theme at what’s known as the Sweetest Place on Earth.
This game was held between the AHL match featuring the Hershey Bears and the Cleveland Monsters, when young players from the Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club got into a scuffle.
Players in the Mites division are typically 8 years old or younger.
Footage from the game captured several players aggressively trying to fight, with one boy in a blue jersey tackling an opponent and throwing punches at his helmet, while teammates in white jerseys rushed in to assist.
As the situation escalated, others in blue joined the conflict, and even the goalkeeper from the white team jumped into the fray.
Remarkably, throughout the almost minute-long video, there seemed to be no adults or officials intervening to restore order. Towards the end of the clip, some children appeared to refocus back on the game.
In a statement released Sunday, the Central Penn Panthers acknowledged the incident and mentioned they are “conducting an internal investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.” They urged for “patience and understanding” as they look into the matter.
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Central Penn Panthers offer teams for a wide range of ages, from 4 to 18.
The Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association also addressed the incident, labeling it an “orchestrated dispute.” They promised that after an independent investigation, “appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the players and team personnel involved.” Furthermore, they noted that neither USA Hockey nor their organization sanctioned the Mites on Ice game held at the Giant Center last weekend.
The Hershey Bears expressed that the brawl “did not reflect the values of our sport or the standards we expect from our young athletes when they step on the ice.” They stated they are reviewing the situation and intend to collaborate with their teams and partners to implement better safeguards to ensure safety and uphold the integrity of youth activities during games.
The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with extensive coverage from various media outlets and even a mention on “Hockey Night in Canada.”
