Brawl puts quick end to Braves hockey game

Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies were called Saturday night to a brawl on the ice between the Spokane Braves and the Nelson Leafs at Planet Ice.

The fight erupted with 5:27 gone in the first period and involved most of the players on the ice and a few from the benches, said Braves head coach Mike Bay. It was over when deputies arrived. No serious injuries were reported.

The game was the 10th and final matchup of the season between the two Kootenay International Junior Hockey League teams.

After the fight, the Nelson team forfeited, Bay said. Deputies stayed to escort the Leafs to the team bus.

“It’s not something we’re proud of, but there were a lot of circumstances that led up to it,” Bay said. “They don’t try to play us. They just try to hurt us.”

– Jonathan Brunt, staff writer