In what can only be described as the most entertaining thing to happen at a hockey game since the invention of the teddy bear toss, a routine “Mites on Ice” intermission exhibition at Saturday night’s Hershey Bears—Cleveland Monsters AHL matchup devolved into absolute pandemonium.
The Bears may have squeaked out a 3-2 victory on the scoreboard, but the real winners were the fans who got to witness the Mites grace us with a viral moment we’ll never forget.
Picture this: a bunch of pint-sized players (roughly 8 years old) hit center ice for a fun little scrimmage to entertain the crowd during intermission. What could go wrong? Everything, apparently.
It all started innocently enough with a little shoving between two kids—one in blue, one in white. Then came the gloves (well, technically they stayed on, but the punches flew anyway). The video has well over 12 million views so far.
Mind you, this is a youth hockey game. Utes!
Youth Hockey Game Gone Wild
Haymakers from tiny fists rained down at the youth hockey game like confetti at a championship parade. Before you could say “body check,” the ice turned into a full-blown melee of miniature mayhem.
Players piled on, tackled each other, and—here’s the best part—one blue-jerseyed warrior got so hyped he started swinging at his own teammate. Classic case of “friendly fire” in the heat of battle.
The question is, where were the parents? Where were any adults to break up this melee? It feels like the fight goes on forever, and nobody does a thing to stop it. At one point, you can see the Hershey Bears mascot skating into the frame, and he doesn’t do anything to stop it.
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There’s an Investigation
That goalie for the white team is an absolute menace. He clearly forgot he was playing a youth hockey game and thought he was auditioning as an NHL enforcer. Dude charged in like a caffeinated bulldozer and laid out an opponent with a glorious hip check.
The crowd? Losing their minds. Adults in the stands were on their feet, cheering louder for the kids’ brawl than they did for the actual AHL goals.
One club involved in the viral fight issued a statement saying they’re “investigating the incident.”
“The safety, well-being, and positive experience of all participants—especially our young players—are of the utmost importance,” the organization wrote. “At this time, we believe it is important to allow this process to take place before drawing conclusions.”
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our families, partners, and community as we work through this matter.”