It was an ugly end to the Bill Salonen Cup game at the Fort William Gardens.
Thunder Bay Police were called and are now interviewing witnesses after Dryden GM Ice Dogs Head Coach Kurt Walsten was allegedly punched in the nose by North Stars forward Avery Siau following Tuesday nights Game 3.
Walsten received a noticeable cut to his nose and was covered in blood but wasn’t seriously injured.
The incident happened behind the players benches following a 2-1 North Stars win.
Siau, who was already serving a 1 game suspension, could be seen standing behind the Ice Dogs, when a verbal exhange occurred between the 20-year-old and members of Dryden GM.
That’s when the alleged punch occurred.
A large crowd of fans also converged behind, with some Ice Dogs personnel telling us they were spit on.
It also took some time for referees and off-ice staff to get Ice Dogs staff safely off the bench and into the dressing room.
A few minutes before the incident, Siau was seen near an accessible door starting a verbal altercation with Ice Dogs penalized forward Matthew Pitchenese.
The two were separated.
SIJHL Commissioner Bryan Graham was in attendance watching the events unfold in the press box.
Thunder Bay Police continued at midnight to interview Ice Dogs staff.
Siau did receive a gross misconduct following the incidents.
Team President Mike Sveinson issued a statement Tuesday night at 11:00.
”The safety of our staff and players is of a larger concern to me than a hockey game. The things we have endured tonight are not acceptable to me as the President or our organization. We are currently weighing our options regarding the game Wednesday and what any impact that our course of action may have on coach long term or our ability to host the Dudley Hewitt Cup. If either of those things are impacted it would weigh in my decision.”
