Police, hockey club investigate viral golf course brawl where ex-NHL player threw man into lake
(TNS) – A brawl at a Canadian golf course that involved former NHL player Nick Tarnasky is reportedly being investigated by police, as well as Tarnasky’s employer.
A video went viral earlier this week of Tarnasky, who played five seasons in the NHL, fighting with another golfer.
The video, which includes profanity, starts with Tarnasky and his group being annoyed about the pace of play of the group in front of them. The two men that Tarnasky and his group are upset with appear to be intoxicated.
“They’ve been sitting there for [expletive] 23 minutes,” Tarnasky can be heard saying.
“Well cry about it. [Expletive] cry about it,” a man from the group in front of them yells back at him.
Nick Tarnasky and the man continue to bicker back and forth, before the altercation becomes physical. One of the other golfers charges at Tarnasky, who proceeds to manhandle him and throw him into the lake.
The other golfer then gets up and comes back to Tarnasky, who yells “bang, bang” while punching him.
Eventually, the two golfers that were first called out, drive off.
PEOPLE magazine reports that Nick Tarnasky is a head coach for Red Deer Minor Hockey — a Canadian youth organization. The magazine reached out to Red Deer about the incident.
“We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey,” General Manager Jason Stephens told PEOPLE in a statement. “At this time, given that we understand the matter is being reviewed by local policing authorities and we are conducting our own internal investigation into the alleged incident, we will have no further comments.”
According to PEOPLE, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police department received a call to report “an intoxicated person causing a disturbance and fighting at the Alberta Springs Golf Resort.”
“Upon arrival, the involved party was gone and the disturbance was over,” Cpl. Troy Savinkoff reportedly said.
Nick Tarnasky, who was known as an enforcer during his playing days, spent time with Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators across his NHL career.
He scored 13 goals and had 17 assists during his time in the NHL. Tarnasky appeared in 245 career games.
