Hockey tourney assault suspects prepare for trial
By Shurtz, Delon on February 18, 2020.
Delon Shurtz
Lethbridge Herald
Two men charged after a referee was attacked at a youth hockey tournament in Lethbridge last year are preparing to go to trial.
Duty counsel Brett Carlson represented both men Friday in Lethbridge provincial court, where Robert Farrell Creighton faces one count of assault and Todd William Cross Child faces two charges of assault.
Carlson told court there have been discussions about potential witnesses, but a conference with defence, the Crown and judge still needs to be scheduled to discuss the case and set a date for trial.
The two men were charged in relation to a three-on-three tournament Sept. 15 during which, according to police, a player got into a verbal spat with a referee. The youth struck the official twice with his stick and the referee pushed the player to the ice.
A group of coaches and a relative of the player then walked onto the ice, where a coach from the opposing team was shoved down and the ref was punched multiple times by two men before the altercation ended.
The annual Quest for the Cup tournament involved players between the ages of seven and 12 years and was organized by the Lethbridge-based skills development business, High Performance Hockey.
Both accused return to court March 20.
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