A 57-year-old Burnaby man is facing charges following an incident at a minor hockey game in February.
Mounties responded to the Karen Magnussen arena in North Vancouver shortly before 9 p.m. on Feb. 21, after receiving a call that a parent was threatening a minor hockey player.
The incident took place in the visitors’ dressing room after the Burnaby Winter Club Atom 3 team lost 5-3 in a playoff game against North Van’s Atom 1 team. The father of one of the Burnaby players entered the dressing room and allegedly threatened his son’s 10-year-old teammate, according to Cpl. Richard De Jong, spokesperson for the North Vancouver RCMP.
Exactly what was said during the altercation, however, cannot be disclosed at this time, De Jong added.
“It’s going to be brought before the courts,” he told the NOW.
De Jong said words were exchanged, which led to the charges. He also described the nature of the threats as “quite graphic.”
“(The charge is) uttering a threat and under the criminal code it’s to cause death or bodily harm, so the exact wording we can’t disclose,” he said.
Following an investigation, Mounties submitted their findings to the Crown who, on March 28, issued a warrant for the arrest of Burnaby resident Terry Litt. Soon after, Litt turned himself in and has been “fully cooperating at this point,” De Jong said.
Burnaby Winter Club general manager Len McNeely confirmed the incident on Feb. 21 did happen but wouldn’t comment further, as it took place outside of Burnaby.
Atom level players are typically between nine and 10 years old in minor hockey.
Litt is facing one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. He was in court in North Vancouver for his first appearance on April 15 and is scheduled to appear again on April 23.
The Atom 3 coaches and Burnaby Winter Club president could not be reached for comment at this time.
- With files from The Province
