Parents intervene in youth hockey game and brawl, one woman injured

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Angry parents got into a shoving match at a youth hockey game, and one woman was injured. <br> <br> Coach Dave Nilles said the brawl broke out Sunday when players started yelling at each other and parents intervened. <br> <br> &#34;You have to really understand the sport of hockey to understand the ferocity of parents,&#34; Nilles said. &#34;The tensions were very high. It was a very lively game.&#34; <br> <br> Arapahoe County sheriff&#39;s officials said they would determine Monday whether to file charges. <br> <br> Diane Harper said the melee began when she and her husband went to the aid of their son, after he was hit in the knees by another player. <br> <br> Harper was hit on the back of the head, but didn&#39;t need medical care. <br> <br> The game was between two teams tied for first place in the Colorado Competitive Youth Hockey League&#39;s midget division, for players ages 15 to 17. <br> <br> The game at the South Suburban Family Sports Center was halted for about a half hour after the brawl. Arvada went on to defeat the Arapahoe County team 4-1. <br> <br> The hockey league has a zero-tolerance policy toward violent fans and players, said Angelo Ricci, who heads the league. Ricci said parents have been banned for a year for misbehaving at games. <br> <br> Parental violence at youth sports got national attention when a Massachusetts father fatally beat another father at their sons&#39; hockey practice. Thomas Junta, 44, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for beating Michael Costin, 40, on July 5, 2000, at a rink. He was sentenced last week to six to 10 years in prison<br>

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