Fan jumps over glass, runs around ice at OHL game

Not many showed up at the Hershey Centre on Wednesday night, but all it took was one crazed fan to make enough of a scene for everyone. That one, potentially over-served man, brought it upon himself to liven up the tepid atmosphere in the announced crowd of 1,711. However, he did it in one stupid, dangerous way. In the middle of a 11-3 rout by the home Mississauga Steelheads over the visiting Guelph Storm in OHL action, a fan decided to halt play after he climbed the glass and made his way onto the ice.

The attention-seeker slung himself over the glass in the Mississauga zone to the right of goaltender Matthew Mancina at 13:48 of the second period with the Steelheads up 7-2. He then ran five paces before tumbling onto his back. He managed to gather himself and raise his hands in jubilation – for what, we don’t know – and apparently paraded his way to the net and slid in. He proceeded to jog towards the Storm net and did the same thing. That’s when the officials escorted the trespasser off the ice.

While the Steelheads players found some levity in the bizarre scene, there’s no doubt this was an unwanted occurrence.

Not only was it an embarrassing display – which could have led to an injurious moment for the fan or, the players or officials – but it also detracted from the game. Defenceman Nicolas Hague netted three goals as part of a four-point night, while fellow prospective 2017 NHL first-rounder Owen Tippett scored twice and added an assist. Nathan Bastian recorded five assists and his linemate and fellow 2016 New Jersey Devils pick Mike McLeod had four points. Unfortunately, that’s not what this game will be remembered for. And all it took was one idiot.