Hockey brawl prompts probe

Fight between Central Bucks, Ridley hospitalized one player

HATFIELD TWP. >> Hatfield Township police have opened an assault investigation into a hockey brawl between two high school teams Thursday night that sent a player to the hospital.

Teams from Central Bucks West High School and Ridley High School were squaring off in a quarterfinal game during the annual Flyers Cup tournament at Hatfield Ice — located at 350 County Line Road — when a fight broke out on the ice.

Two Central Bucks West players were hurt during the melee, with one player transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of nonlife-threatening injuries, detectives said.

Hatfield Township police were summoned to the arena shortly after 10 p.m.; officers from the Souderton, Lansdale, Montgomery Township and Telford police departments also arrived at the scene to help quell the altercation.

Various media reports Friday indicated that some spectators were seen fighting as well — video obtained by 6ABC appears to show some kind of confrontation in the stands — but police did not comment on those reports.

Detectives on Friday asked anyone who was at the game and witnessed the brawl — and, in particular, anyone who may have a video recording of the fight — to contact Hatfield police at 215-855-0903 or email policetips@hatfield-township.org.