A Hockey Brawl, Teddy Bear Toss, Grinch On The Ice And Day-After Spa Visit All Happened In OHL Game

Not even a video game can replicate what happened in a major junior hockey game on Sunday.

The OHL's Barrie Colts visited the Ottawa 67's for an afternoon clash featuring the annual teddy bear toss, where fans throw teddy bears and other stuffed animals on the ice following the team's first goal to be donated to charity.

Early in the second period, the 67's Bradley Horner and Colts' Kashawn Aitcheson got in a fight, with Horner receiving the instigator penalty and misconduct. Barrie scored on the power play.

Less than four minutes later, the Colts' Beau Akey took a tripping penalty, and with the 67's on the power play, their captain capitalized.

Luca Pinelli, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect, received a cross-ice pass from Cooper Foster to one-time the puck past Colts netminder Ben Hrebik. It was Pinelli's second straight teddy bear toss goal, as the stuffed animals came raining down from the stands.

But the scenes quickly became different from a regular teddy bear toss, a popular event across junior hockey and minor leagues around the holidays.

As the 67's celebrated the goal, Colts defenseman and Ottawa Senators prospect Gabriel Eliasson appeared to turn and shove a 67's player who was battling him at the net front during play.

The other Ottawa players on the ice got involved in the scrum, which prompted the Colts skaters to join in.

Strobe lights flashed as teddy bears and punches flew. Players wrestled, tussled and sprawled all over the ice as officials tried to get the situation under control. At one point, two 67's and two Colts players were all wrestling each other at once on the ice.

Oh yeah, and the Grinch and Riley the Raccoon walked around while everything was happening.

The Grinch looked around and put his hands up as a referee held back Pinneli, who was jawing at Eliasson as the latter was directed toward the dressing rooms.

The teddy bear brouhaha resulted in 10 penalties to five players. Barrie's Eliasson and Dalyn Wakely and Ottawa's Pinelli and Foster got misconducts and roughing penalties, while Colts captain Beau Jelsma only received a roughing minor.

The scenes caught the attention of Dallas Stars writer David Castillo, who clipped the broadcast and shared it on X Sunday afternoon. By Monday afternoon, his post has more than 3,600 likes and 780 reposts.

"A truly unique edition of The Beautiful Game, as the Ottawa 67's and the Barrie Colts get into a kerfuffle in the middle of the teddy bear toss," Castillo wrote.

The OHL left the brawl out of its highlight package, and the 67's X account didn't mention it on Sunday, aside from saying "A good battle" for its end-of-game post after losing 2-1.

But on Monday afternoon, the 67's posted a photo of Pinelli, Matthew Mayich, Brady Stonehouse and Will Gerroir standing in bathrobes outside a spa in nearby Gatineau, Que.

"The guys needed a day at Nordik Spa after the Teddy Tussle," the post said.

The team also reshared a clip of the brawl to promote its auction of Sunday's game-worn teddy bear toss jerseys.

Correction: The second player in the spa photo is Matthew Mayich.

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