The father of a teen hockey player was arrested Saturday night after police said he attacked the coach for pulling his son from the game during a high school tournament at Leisure Rinks in Orchard Park.
Officers from the Orchard Park and West Seneca police departments responded to 911 calls about a fight at the rink on Weiss Avenue where they encountered a large crowd in the parking lot and foyer when they arrived at about 9:50 p.m., Orchard Park police reported.
Officers determined that Michael Schaefer, 48, of Buffalo, assaulted the coach, who reportedly suffered a shoulder injury and was taken by ambulance to Mercy Ambulatory Care Center where he was treated and discharged.
Orchard Park Police Lt. Patrick Fitzgerald said the coach indicated he had taken Schaefer’s son out of the game. He said police did not know the reason.
Shortly after the game ended, Fitzgerald said, Schaefer confronted the coach near the ice, pushed him back and hit him several times.
Police did not release the coach’s name and did not know the name of his team.
Schaefer was charged with third-degree assault and taken to the Orchard Park Police Department, where he was released on an appearance ticket, police said.
The St. Francis Prep Tournament, an annual competition associated with St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, was going on this weekend at Leisure Rinks, with the St. Francis prep hockey team playing out-of-town teams.
The St. Francis prep team lists Mike Schaefer as a junior who plays on the team.
Scott Diebold, the coach, could not be reached to comment Sunday.
Fitzgerald said Orchard Park police asked for help from West Seneca because of initial reports of a fight and a large crowd. But he said police encountered no problem with the crowd and that the attack involved just Michael Schaefer and the coach.
email: jstaas@buffnews.com
Officers from the Orchard Park and West Seneca police departments responded to 911 calls about a fight at the rink on Weiss Avenue where they encountered a large crowd in the parking lot and foyer when they arrived at about 9:50 p.m., Orchard Park police reported.
Officers determined that Michael Schaefer, 48, of Buffalo, assaulted the coach, who reportedly suffered a shoulder injury and was taken by ambulance to Mercy Ambulatory Care Center where he was treated and discharged.
Orchard Park Police Lt. Patrick Fitzgerald said the coach indicated he had taken Schaefer’s son out of the game. He said police did not know the reason.
Shortly after the game ended, Fitzgerald said, Schaefer confronted the coach near the ice, pushed him back and hit him several times.
Police did not release the coach’s name and did not know the name of his team.
Schaefer was charged with third-degree assault and taken to the Orchard Park Police Department, where he was released on an appearance ticket, police said.
The St. Francis Prep Tournament, an annual competition associated with St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, was going on this weekend at Leisure Rinks, with the St. Francis prep hockey team playing out-of-town teams.
The St. Francis prep team lists Mike Schaefer as a junior who plays on the team.
Scott Diebold, the coach, could not be reached to comment Sunday.
Fitzgerald said Orchard Park police asked for help from West Seneca because of initial reports of a fight and a large crowd. But he said police encountered no problem with the crowd and that the attack involved just Michael Schaefer and the coach.
email: jstaas@buffnews.com