Saturday evening, a fight broke out in the stands of the Frank-Robinson arena in the Aylmer sector during an M18 AA match where young players from the Voltigeurs de Drummondville and the Matériaux de l’Outaouais competed.
The violence also spilled onto the ice rink where several fights between hockey players broke out. No fewer than 289 penalty minutes were awarded after the game was over. In total for the duel, the Voltigeurs received 173 penalty minutes and the Londres 122.
According to witnesses at the scene, everything was started by an intoxicated adult who uttered threats and repeatedly invited the other parents present to fight. The meeting was over, but that’s when hostilities began. People were injured in the altercation.
City of Gatineau police officers were called to the scene, but when they arrived, the shots were no longer being exchanged. They made no arrests and gave no notice of offense. The latter were also called on Friday for another incident, but near the Paul-et-Isabelle-Duchesnay arena, still in the Aylmer sector, as part of the same tournament.
Alcohol is sold at low prices at competition sites or is brought by spectators who consume it outside, before entering the rink and, according to the president of Hockey Aylmer, Daniel Dupuis, some people had it drank a notable amount. This is what started the altercation.
“This is what happens when some people don’t know how to control themselves. It’s unfortunate because everything was going well until that point. There was no other excess when the police arrived on the scene,” said Mr. Dupuis, who was there on Saturday evening.
Beer is sold for $3.50 a can in the arenas where the tournament takes place. Under section 114.13.1 of the Liquor License Act, the license holder must “determine the minimum retail price of beer so that it does not encourage unresponsible consumption” .
Mr. Dupuis does not believe that it is the price which encourages excessive consumption. “It’s the same price almost everywhere in all tournaments in Quebec.”
According to him, the Saturday of this tournament, year after year, is always eventful. “There’s always something happening on Saturday night. This is when several teams are eliminated and emotions too often take over.”
This tournament will conclude on Sunday with the presentation of the semi-finals and finals.
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