The Ontario Minor Hockey Association has come down hard on one of the coaches involved in last month's bench-clearing brawl between two AAA novice hockey teams.
Niagara Falls Thunder assistant coach Randy Brant has been suspended three years for his involvement in the brawl between two teams of eight-year-olds, which happened during a minor hockey tournament in Guelph, Ontario.
Brant left the players' bench during the Nov. 23 incident that involved the Thunder and Duffield Devils.
A videotape allegedly shows the coaches scuffling with each other and it was alleged one of the coaches spit in the other's face.
Brant's suspension bars him from coaching or being otherwise involved in minor hockey for three years.
Niagara Falls head coach Bob Chamberlain was suspended for four games for his role in the melee but has since been reinstated.
In addition, two unnamed officials from the Duffield team have been suspended by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
There was no word on the length of the suspension but GTHL officials say the entire coaching staff must appear before a special committee of the league's board within 10 days.
Police reviewed videotape footage of the brawl as part of their investigation and decided not to lay criminal charges.
After investigating the incident, speaking to witnesses and reviewing a videotape showing the fight, Guelph police say the incident will be better handled by the two teams' minor hockey associations.