‘Kids Night’ Celebration Marred By Stick-Swinging Incident

A stick-swinging attack that left one hockey player with a broken nose and another in jail marred a “Kids Night” promotion by the Tacoma Sabercats of the West Coast Hockey League.

Phoenix Mustangs defender Jason McIntyre, 25, was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail pending arraignment Monday on a felony charge of second-degree assault.

McIntyre was ejected on a match misconduct penalty for a two-handed slash with his stick on Thom Cullen of the Tacoma Sabercats.

Cullen had been slapped with a high-sticking penalty at the end of the first period.

He was treated for two fractures of his nose and three lacerations, Dr. Jeff Nacht said.

Celebrating the club’s first anniversary, Sabercats officials had distributed free tickets to the game at local grade schools. Attendance was 5,328 at the Tacoma Dome.