Nick Tarnasky Opens Up About Wild Golf Course Fight

Former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky recently shared his thoughts on a fight that went viral last week, which took place at the Alberta Springs Golf Course in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

During an appearance on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, Tarnasky explained that the altercation started on July 4th. He described how, on the busy course, playing a hole typically takes a drunken player about 20 to 25 minutes. He noted that this could lead to tension among players trying to enjoy their game.

“I asked him not to engage, but he insisted he shouldn’t have to deal with me. I told him to let it go, giving him multiple chances. Yet, he kept accusing me,” Tarnasky recounted. “I’m not one to back down from a challenge.”

The drunken golfer in question was later identified as Trevor Ogilvie. Tarnasky, who stands 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 230 pounds, recalled that the situation escalated after Ogilvie threatened several people, including Tarnasky’s friends and their fiancées.

As Ogilvie and his group were on the 15th hole, Tarnasky approached and said, “Hey, we need to move.” The altercation began right after this, with Tarnasky recalling how Ogilvie tightened his fists and raised his arms. This moment was captured on video.

Tarnasky intended to lighten the mood by jokingly threatening to toss Ogilvie into a nearby pond, but felt the need to protect himself as tensions rose. “If someone said they were going to toss me in the pond, I’d probably be on edge too,” he mentioned. “I thought it might help to say, ‘Let’s hurry this up.'”

Ogilvie later admitted that it was “not his best moment,” recognizing that he often speaks without thinking. However, he didn’t seem to heed the warning from Tarnasky, who accumulated a total of 297 penalties during his NHL career.

After some back-and-forth captured in the video, Tarnasky told Ogilvie and his friends that they needed to leave. Law enforcement eventually arrived, and Tarnasky explained the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

Reflecting on the chaotic scene, Tarnasky described the aftermath as “quite tough” and “overwhelming.” He also noted the support he received from former teammates, joking, “I’m happy to hear from nearly all the guys I played with over the last 13-14 years. They were fired up.”