Kovalev loses battle with B's fan over stick

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 17, 2009 1:35 AM EDT Comment 5 comments

Montreal Canadiens right wing Alexei Kovalev (27) and a Boston Bruins fan battle over possession of Kovalev's stick, which popped through a photographer's shooting hole in the glass, during the closing minute against the Boston Bruins in a first-round NHL hockey playoff game Thursday, April 16, 2009, in Boston. The Bruins beat the Canadiens 4-2. The stick broke, with both men ending up with part of it. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

7 months ago: Montreal Canadiens right wing Alexei Kovalev (27) and a Boston Bruins fan battle over possession of Kovalev's stick, which popped through a photographer's shooting hole in the glass, during the closing minute against the Boston Bruins in a first-round NHL hockey playoff game Thursday, April 16, 2009, in Boston. The Bruins beat the Canadiens 4-2. The stick broke, with both men ending up with part of it. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Apparently, this fan decided to play tug-o-war with Alex Kovalev for his stick during the closing minute of tonight's game. I guess this dude reached out through the photographer's hole in the glass and ripped the stick right out of Kovalev's hands.

I would kind of like to know what the hell this guy was thinking and what happened after he got the stick. Did he get to keep it? Did he get roughed up by the TD Banknorth Garden rent-a-cops? Did Georges Laraque challenge him to a fight? Did Maxim Lapierre jump him when he was trying to get on the T after the game? If anyone was sitting in this guy's section and saw this go down, shoot me an email stanleycupofchowder@gmail.com and I will post the story.

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I get the feeling

you disapprove. How can you not love this?

by ike6116 on Apr 17, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I might have more on this soon. Stay tuned.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 17, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i both love it and hate it

The happy side of me loves it for the pure hilarity of seeing a fan take a stick away from a player. And it seems like a bit of justice given the Habs’ cheap shots at the end of the game.

The sad side of me dislikes it for two reasons: I’m a Boston fan no longer living in Massachusetts, and the hatred people have for us where I live is palpable (more for the Patriots than any of our other teams, but still). Incidents like this, while really not that outrageous, get youtubed and mailed around my office and posted on message boards without context and people just start ragging on us “a**hole Northeasterners.” Also, I’m never happy to see fans cross the line of physically interacting with players in any confrontational/hostile situation; it’s not fair to the athletes. (Note that I think that positive situations, like high-fives, autographs, handshakes, hugs after a Lambeau leap, etc. are ok)

by jctsai12 on Apr 17, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t want the rest of the country or the sports world to like us.

They can all get f**ked.

It is pure hilarity. Sports are just a form of entertainment.

by ike6116 on Apr 17, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Full marks

A first rate act of hooliganism if I ever saw one. I love it.
I’m actually surprised Kovalev didn’t fall to the ice pretending that his arm was ripped off.
Mitigating factor here is that the fan never entered the field of play. Kovalev’s stick poked through the camera hole into the stands. Had the fan reached out onto the playing surface, it would be different.
Also love the fact that Kovalev was pissed. I hope that fan is at the game on Saturday asking Alexei if he lost something.

by canospam on Apr 17, 2009 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs