Document text
44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, March 14, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 10, 2005 ‘Brutal’ beating mars hockey match An Ashland player was hospitalized in Idaho Friday after an opposing team member ‘sucker-punched’ him and delivered a beating By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Erik Hamlet of Ashland has seen his share of fights in more than three decades of playing hockey, but he’s haunted by an ugly incident that sent a Siskiyou Summits teammate to the hospital Friday during the closing moments of a game in Sun Valley, Idaho. Hamlet, a former minor-league hockey player and current captain of the Ashland-based amateur Summits team, said a "brutal" altercation involving teammate Colton Allen was unprovoked and completely uncalled for. "I’ve played hockey for over 30 years, and it was alarming to me," Hamlet said. "I’ve never seen anything that brutal. This guy just grabbed Colton and sucker-punched him. "Fighting happens in hockey, but that wasn’t a fight. It was an assault." Police have investigated it as such, after receiving dozens of calls from witnesses who believe Sun Valley Suns player Neil Ford, 30, belongs in jail for attacking Allen, 25, of Ashland. Sun Valley is about 150 driving miles east of Boise. Advertisement "We have tons of witness statements," said Sun Valley Police Chief Cam Daggett. "They all feel it was out of line, even for a hockey game. It outraged our community." With less than two minutes remaining in the game and Sun Valley leading 8-1, Ford allegedly blindsided Allen and broke his nose with a punch. The altercation continued until Allen was left bleeding and sprawled on the ice, Hamlet said. "It appears it was a one-sided fight," Daggett said. "Colton must have passed out, because he appeared defenseless. He was punched in the face over and over." Allen’s girlfriend drove him to an emergency room at a local hospital, where he was treated for a broken nose, broken bones around his eyes and other injuries, Hamlet said. The assault investigation was launched when hospital staff phoned police to tell them about Allen’s injuries, Daggett said. Allen was released from the hospital on Saturday, when he met up with his team at the arena where they lost a second game against the Suns 9-5. Allen’s eyes were swollen shut at the time, Hamlet said, adding that the second game was played without incident. Allen joined the Summits shortly after the team formed in 2002, Hamlet said. As a veteran player, Hamlet says he knows many fans are drawn to hockey because of the fighting. But he says a "code of ethics" followed by most players usually prevents altercations from getting out of hand. "It’s a cardinal sin to sucker punch a guy," he said. "That doesn’t belong in hockey. (Allen) could have been killed." Hamlet said he feels referees didn’t do enough to stop the incident when it became obvious several Sun Valley players wanted to fight as the clock wound down. Fans who witnessed the incident booed Ford off the ice, Hamlet said. Ford was dismissed from the team and could face felony charges if Blaine County, Idaho, prosecutors decide the fight was a criminal matter, Daggett said. Prosecutors are currently reviewing police reports to determine if charges should be filed. Hamlet said several Suns players went to the hospital to check on Allen after the game. Dozens of fans apologized to the Summits for Ford’s behavior, and raised about $1,000 for Allen’s medical expenses. "I feel it united their community somewhat," said Hamlet, adding that Allen would not comment publicly on the incident because it is still under legal review. Although Allen currently leads the Summits in penalty minutes, Hamlet said the 25-year-old is not a dirty player. "He’s our toughest guy, but not a fighter at all," he said. "He plays hard, clean hockey. We don’t have anybody who goes out and looks for fights. Our guys are first-class, and what happened up there was completely classless. There wasn’t any reason for their guys to be looking for fights in the last minute of a game like that." Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress Advertisement s