A 21-year-old junior player in Quebec left the ice for the final time in his career in handcuffs. He was arrested mid-game after being pinned to the ice by on-ice officials following an altercation in which the player allegedly spit on one linesman.
Quebec junior player arrested on ice after altercation with refereeOlivier Marcotte, 21, was playing in his final season of eligibility with the Quebec Junior AA Sherbrooke Hockey-Experts and was likely hoping to end his career with post-season glory. Instead, he left the ice for the final time in handcuffs.
During the third game of a playoff series this past weekend in Nicolet, Que., Marcotte got into an altercation with a linesman before a faceoff in the opposition zone. It was during the altercation that Marcotte allegedly spit in the linesman’s face at which point he was wrestled and pinned to the ice by the two linesmen working the game.
With Marcotte down, two Sûreté du Québec officers came onto the ice, handcuffed Marcotte and took him off the ice:
Later in the video, Marcotte appears calm while speaking with officers. According to the CBC, no charges were filed against Marcotte and he was released from police custody later that evening. The league’s president, Serge Campeau, spoke to CBC but didn’t offer comment on the incident.
Had Marcotte’s club from Sherbrooke won, a suspension likely would have been coming, but Nicolet took home a 9-3 win to eliminate the Hockey-Experts from the post-season. It was their final game of the season, and will be Marcotte’s final game in the league. Campeau told Radio-Canada a suspension would have little impact, but the altercation could impact Marcotte’s ability to coach in the league should he pursue that.
(Video via TVA Sports)