Alberta Was Kung-Fu Fighting

It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while there will be a highlight on a sports show of a player teeing a puck up, missing the net, but shattering the glass behind the net with the shot. Plexiglass is made to withstand the rigors of hockey without the danger of shards of glass flying everywhere off a big hit or a missed shot, but I have to admit that what was seen last night in Saskatoon at Merlis Belsher Place was completely out of the ordinary when it comes to how a pane of glass broke.

In Game Three of the Canada West Final between the visiting Alberta Golden Bears and the Saskatchewan Huskies, Alberta defenceman Sawyer Lange went to clear a puck out of his zone when he appears to try and balance himself with his skate against the boards or glass. And then this happened.

GBH🐻🏒
This is a new type of delay! We will call it the ‘Karate Kick a hole in the glass delay’.

Sawyer Lange’s skate goes right through the end glass, and a LONG delay ensues @MerlisBelsherPl.@GBHKY and @HuskieAthletics still tied at 0-0 in Game 3 of the @CanadaWest Final. pic.twitter.com/DsXPOJHsTN

— UAlberta Golden Bears & Pandas (@BearsandPandas) March 4, 2019

I have no idea why Lange would try to stabilize himself with his skate like that, but the impact of his skate against the glass led to a 12-minute delay in the game as the ice crew cleaned up the broken glass off the ice and replaced the pane of glass that had the hole caused by Lange's foot.

It seemed the unusual occurrence had no effect on the Golden Bears as they went on to down the Huskies 1-0 in Game Three to capture their 28th Canada West title. Both teams will now move on to the U SPORTS Men's Hockey National Championship in Lethbridge from March 14-17. Let's just hope there aren't any other players who are kicking the glass in at arenas during that tournament!

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice!