The 15-year-old received three kicks to the head in the hockey rink. Illustration image. PDO
A junior boys hockey game took a disturbing turn at Littleton, Colorado last weekend. 15 years old Xander Keenan was kicked on the ice in the middle of the game.
Keenan was on the ice defending a 5–3 underdog. Denver7’s according to the police report received, the victim had told the authorities that he had skated towards the corner. An opponent’s skate hit Keenan’s skate and knocked him to the ice.
After that, Keenan tried to hold on to the opponent’s stick, but the player pushed him to the ground again. He tried again, but again the boy pushed him into the ice.
Then the opponent had started kicking Keenan.
According to the police report, the victim had felt three kicks to the head.
– I was really scared, because I had seen bad examples on YouTube. I didn’t want the same thing to happen to me, Keenan told Denver7 in an interview.
All this was recorded for video, which was shared on social media. After the kick, Keenan’s teammates intervened. The video shows when one player rushed full speed at the kicker, tackling him to the ice.
Keenan suffered no visible injuries from the incident, but did have a headache after the incident.
The police also interviewed the kicker after the game. The suspect said in the report that Keenan had held him by the leg. According to his own words, the boy had started kicking Keenan to get him to let go.
After the third kick, the suspect stopped because he realized that the opponent lying on the ground could die.
Earlier in the game, the two had no problems with each other. According to the suspect’s statement, the situation got out of hand because Keenan had been annoying and provocative to him during the game.
– I don’t think his actions were justified because of my slight provocation or my holding on to the bat, Keenan said.
A criminal charge for the boy
Keenan’s parents were there to watch the game.
– I saw a few kicks and tackles. Then I kicked my bench aside and ran down the stairs to see what was really going on there, the boy’s father Mickey Keenan recalled.
Dad was of course worried, because skates can cause a bad effect.
– There are two really sharp knives on the feet. In the NHL, throats have been cut open. The situation is quickly stopped when the young children kick anywhere on the body.
– 5-6 year olds don’t understand yet, but 13-14 year olds know that if they kick, their playing career is over.
The suspect is about to be charged with assault for his kicking, which will be dealt with in court.
The Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and the USA Hockey Association have suspended the suspect from all games and practices. The suspension is valid until the trial. It will be held within the next 30 days.
Father and son Keenan hope the incident will serve as a lesson to other players.
– After all, this is just a game. We play to win, and this is a physical game, but we just want to have fun, Xander summed up.