Do You Agree? Plymouth Magistrate Won't Issue Charges in Hockey Hit
A Plymouth District Court magistrate refused to issue charges against a high school hockey player who dealt a bone-crushing hit to another player during a game in January.
The parents of a Duxbury high school hockey player Tucker Hannon seeking assault charges against a Scituate player who delivered a hard check to their son that caused the boy to go flying to the ice and left him with a concussion will have to be happy with an apology from the young man who delivered the hit.
Friday, a Plymouth District Court magistrate refused to issue charges against Alex Way, the Scituate High School player who delivered the hit.
Hannon, 18, suffered a severe concussion on the play, causing him to miss the rest of the hockey season and five weeks of school. The hit occurred Jan. 7 during a game at The Bog Ice Arena in Kingston.
“If this (check) was off the rink, on a public way, that is gross, negligent assault and battery,” said Jay Mullen, the attorney representing Thomas and Sheila Hannon, Tucker’s parents, told the Patriot Ledger prior to the hearing.
Hannon said told the Boston Globe, "I don’t think it should have been brought to court.” He said the matter could have been settled if Way had just apologized. He said Way had now apologized and the matter was settled in his mind.
“The apology was accepted,” he said.
Way said after hearing, “I’m sorry Tucker got a concussion. And I’m sorry it got to this point.”
The boys both play lacrosse in the spring and their teams will be facing each other in just a few weeks.
So was this hit clean? Should parents be able to file assault charges for injuries happening on the ice, court or field? Take a look at the YouTube video and decide for yourself and share your thoughts in the comments below.
donna
6:45 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
This is the reason I am not a great hockey fan...you see this all the time with professional hockey games...you know the risks when you play...yes, I fully agree with the magistrate...not saying its right or wrong...but it seems to be the way the game is played..
Leigh G
7:13 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
I completely agree with the magistrates decision on this. It's terrible that the kid got hurt and went through what he did but this is hockey. When you start your child playing, you know the possible risks. You know what you're getting them into. Players get hit and sometimes hurt. If you don't want your child subjected to that kind of risk, sign them up for tennis.
Coco
10:25 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
The magistrates decision was 100% correct. Mr. and Mrs. Hannon should be ashamed, not only did they embarrass themselves and their son they wasted the courts time for an apology. It was a clean hit, the Scituate player did not viciously go after their son. Do they realize what they could have done to this young mans future. I'm glad their son is better no one ever wants to see a player hurt like that. but he probably shouldn't play any contact sports!!
Anne Mulieri
7:08 am on Sunday, April 29, 2012
I also agree with the above comments regarding the magistrate's decision. For the Hannon's lawyer to equate a legal hockey hit with assault and battery was what was criminal in this case. Both the Hannon family and their lawyer should be ashamed and they should be the ones issuing an apology to the Way family , not the other way around!
Bob
9:39 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
It is unfortunate that someone was hurt, but I played hockey for many years and I did a Q/A in my head... Did the person hit have the puck=yes, Did the hitter charge him=no, Did the hitter leave his feet=no, Did the hitter hit him with his stick=no, Did the hitter hit him above the shoulders=no... looks legal to me.
Casey Meserve
3:42 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Thanks for your expertise Bob. I just watch a LOT of hockey and I thought it was clean.