Two minutes for heckling

Vocal Cataract fans freedom of speech violated, supporter says

A Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts fan is upset with the way municipal enforcement officers handled a couple of boisterous guys at a hockey game recently.

Submitted photo

Grand Falls-Windsor municipal enforcement officers removed this unruly fan from his seat at a recent Cataracts game, prompting fellow fans to cry foul over the police actions.

In a letter to The Advertiser, Evan Penton said the municipal enforcement officers actions at the Feb. 7 game between the Cataracts and the Clarenville Caribous were a complete violation against freedom of speech as well as an abuse of power from a local cop.

But Grand Falls-Windsor Deputy Mayor Barry Manuel says its their job to curb situations they feel could turn volatile.

When tensions get high, its a judgment call on their part how to handle the situation, he said.

Penton acknowledged the two diehard fans were very vocal during the third period, and they had been heckling the opposing players and fans all night long. But he says they didnt say anything vulgar or use curse words.

While Penton thought both of the men had been removed from their seats, one of the fans involved, Blaine Piercey, said it may have looked that way, but thats not how things unfolded.

Piercey said he was asked by the officers to come down to talk to the boss, so thats what he did.

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Two minutes for heckling