Criminal charges coming after Winnipeg hockey fight

Police say charges are pending against three peopleinvolved in an on-ice brawl at a hockey tournament in Winnipeg.

It happened during a game at theSoutheast Aboriginal Tournament, held inFebruary at theSouthdaleCommunity Centre in Winnipeg.

A teamfrom BrokenheadOjibwayNation was playing against a team fromSagkeengFirst Nation when referees had to stepin to stop a scuffle between twoplayers.

• Hockey player, coach suspended for fight at Winnipeg tourney
• Hockey player, 12, hurt in scuffle involving referee, coach

The players were separated but while making their way back to their team benches, a12-year-old player from Sagkeeng usedhis stick to slash the Brokenheadplayer on the back of the legs.

As the two players begin jostling again, a refereeskates in to break it up. He grabs the Sagkeengplayer and appears to slip, knocking the boy to the ground as they both fall.

An assistantcoach from Sagkeengthen runs onto the ice and goes after the 22-year-old refereewhile other officials and coaches rush to the melee.

Player, coach suspended

The Southeast Tribal Council, which hosts the annualtournament, held a press conference earlier this month to saythe player and coachwill be suspended, though the length of the suspension was not revealed.

Police said they are still investigating the incident and charges are likely.They have not identified the people yet and won't say if thatincludes the same coach and player suspended by the tribal council.

The 12-year-oldSagkeengplayer, who was injured in the fall with the ref, and his mother had been calling for the referee to be disciplined and criminally charged.

They claimed the official picked him up from under the armsand slammed the boy onto the ice.

But Brokenhead First Nation Chief Jim Bear questions whether criminal charges are the best way to deal with theincident.

"I'm glad something is going to be done there has to be consequences to any type of violence. However, I don't really have too much faith in the mainstream justice system," he said.

"I would prefer to see restorative justice in place of mainstream justice being conducted. And in this fashion, the refs can be part of that as well."