BREAKING: Penguins fan ejected in wild scene after ‘stealing puck from child and being threatened by the boy’s mother
Pittsburgh Penguins fans found an unexpected highlight during Monday’s 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning: the removal of an elderly fan from PPG Paints Arena.
The unidentified man allegedly took a puck from a young fan seated behind the glass and nearly got into a physical altercation with the child’s mother, who stopped short of throwing a punch at him. The grey-haired man, wearing a replica Lowell MacDonald jersey, received applause from the crowd as he was escorted out during the second period.
The incident began with the game tied at 1-1 when a puck became caught in the netting over one end of the rink. According to Penguins president of business operations Kevin Acklin, the puck dropped to the ground after a young boy shook the glass. The older man retrieved it, sparking boos from nearby fans, some of whom recorded the scene.
Acklin clarified the man’s intentions, explaining that he had given the puck to his teenage granddaughter. However, to resolve the situation, a player’s wife or girlfriend was brought to the section by staff, personally delivering another puck to the young fan and hugging his mother.
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The situation escalated further when the older man returned to argue with the boy’s mother and another spectator. “It got out of hand,” Acklin said, describing heated exchanges and hand gestures that led to the man being escorted out.
Acklin noted the drama distracted from the game, during which Tampa Bay scored. Reflecting on the incident, he emphasized the need to consider both perspectives and praised staff for reaching out to both families, who each felt justified in their actions.