A violent altercation broke out between players and fans during a North American Hockey League game between the Marquis de Jonquière and the Assurancia de Thetford Mines team on Friday in Saguenay.
In the second period, a player from the Assurancia de Thetford Mines team, Nicolas Dumulong, was sent off by the referee after a gesture made towards a rival.
When he left the ice, fans near the opposing team’s bench rushed at the player. As the video clearly shows, the situation has completely degenerated. Fans poured beer on the player in question and insulted him repeatedly, while some players tried to calm the altercation by restraining Dumulong.
“We’re not looking for that at all, altercations between players and fans… Were they players from the other team who provoked people in the stands to react like that? We do not know. But it’s certain that it’s not the kind of spectacle we’re looking for,” assured Marquis supporter Roland Poirier.
The City of Saguenay relies on five agents from the Garda firm for each game of the Marquis de Jonquière. The organization could ask that they concentrate more near the stands near the visitors’ bench.
“This is often where problems arise,” says one of the team’s shareholders, Guy Simard. “You can’t wait until someone gets hurt. We didn’t like what happened on Friday.”