Mike Milbury Charged with Assault

News today of charges against CBC commentator Mike Milbury has the hockey world talking. When I had first saw this headline I was convinced Milbury finally flew of the handle and popped P.J Stock or Elliot Friedman. In reality, Milbury allegedly engaged in a physical confrontation with a 12 year old boy who was involved an on ice altercation with his son. Milbury is also being charged with threats to commit a crime. I gather that is legal jargon for Milbury telling the 12 year old kid that he was going to get more then a piece of his mind. The incident took place in Brookline Massachusetts where Milburys son was playing peewee hockey. This type of thing sadly goes on at rinks all across North America, I've seen it first hand. But Milbury, as a public figure, and employee of CBC as well as VERSUS has to realize that even if he verbally assaulted the kid (forget whatever physical confrontation may, or may not have happened) he must have enough sense to realize that his employers aren't going to stand for it. So was rinsing out a 12 year old kid who was arguing with your son really worth it Mike? Gee, you sure got the better of him.

 CBC has already announced that Milbury will no longer be apart of their Hockey Night in Canada broadcast going forward, as one would suspect when an individual conducts himself in this manner. Milbury has shown himself to be a bit of a hot head on HNIC broadcasts, so I can't say that this comes as a huge surprise to me. Milbury denies these allegations, but witnesses at the rink where the assault took place on December 9th say that Milbury ran onto the ice during a fight between his son, and the player who was allegedly assaulted by Milbury, where Milbury proceeded to "shake" the opposing player. Milbury claims he merely "intervened". I can't pass judgment as Milbury has the right to be innocent until proven otherwise. However, if he so much as grabbed and shook the 12 year old in question, he likely in that moment committed his last act involving the hockey world. On ice, behind a bench, or in front of a camera.