Police release verdict on brutal golf brawl involving ex-hockey star who punched rival and threw him into lake
Now the 40-year-old Under-17 coach appears to be avoiding any penalty for the fight that has gone viral on social media.
'It was essentially a report of a fight and an intoxicated individual,' Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal Troy Savinkoff told CBC. 'Nobody came forward to us alleging an assault or anything like that, and our investigation was concluded.'
Tarnasky's U-17 team, Red Deer Minor Hockey, has also released its own statement claiming that it is investigating the incident.
'We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey,' the team told CBC. 'At this time, given that we understand the matter is being reviewed by local policing authorities and we are conducting our own internal investigation into the alleged incident, we will have no further comments.
The fight, which took place at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, saw an unidentified man punched several times and pushed into a lake by Tarnasky, a journeyman NHL center who last played professionally with the AHL's San Diego Gulls in 2017.
Video of the incident showed Tarnasky growing furious with a slower group that refused to let his play through.
The fight was very one-sided as Tarnasky quickly tossed the other man into the water.
Incredibly, the victim crawled out of the water and continued to challenge Tarnasky to a fight, resulting in the ex-enforcer landing five punches to his rival's head before tossing him towards the lake once again.
Nonetheless, the unidentified man appears to be OK following the mauling, as a photo has emerged of him with only a slight black eye.
A photo has emerged of the man in the fight with just a mild black eye afterwards.
As seen on the r/golf page on Reddit, the man posed for an apparent Snapchat photo sticking his tongue out and seemingly in good spirits.
'Just a tiny lil black eye thats it thats all boys,' he wrote.
Drafted 287th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003, Tarnasky also played for the Florida Panthers and the Nashville Predators. Across 245 NHL games, he totaled 13 goals, 30 points, and a whopping 297 penalty minutes.
He spent many more games in the American Hockey League - playing in 486 games and putting up 80 goals, 145 points and an astounding 881 penalty minutes.
Tarnasky last played in the NHL in 2010.
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