N.S. hockey dad wont face criminal charges in case of rink rage

DARTMOUTH, N.S. A hockey dad involved in an off-ice altercation at a November rink last year no longer faces criminal charges.

Christopher Robert Hubley, 43, of Middle Sackville has successfully completed the provinces adult diversion program after accepting responsibility for causing a disturbance during a peewee AAA tournament in Dartmouth in November.

Hubley received counselling for anger management, made a $300 donation to a needy family, and complied with a one-year suspension and behaviour contract with Hockey Nova Scotia.

As a result, the disturbance charge was withdrawn Tuesday in provincial court, along with charges of assaulting and threatening a Hockey Nova Scotia supervisor who confronted Hubley about his rink rage.

Adult diversion has been offered provincewide since 1997 to first-time offenders of minor crimes.

Cases are diverted from court and referred to probation officers, who determine what steps the offender can take to resolve the matter and avoid having a criminal record.

Halifax Regional Police were called to the arena Nov. 16 during the Bluewave Energy Challenge Cup to investigate a complaint that an irate father had assaulted Phil Power, Hockey Nova Scotias co-ordinator of risk management and officiating, after a game between the Sackville Flyers and Cole Harbour Wings.

Hubley, in an interview that evening, admitted to yelling at the referee after his 11-year-old son, a forward with Sackville, was ejected with 48 seconds left in the contest for delivering a hit to the head of an opponent.

He also admitted to swearing at a Cole Harbour woman after the game, a 1-0 Sackville victory.

But Hubley denied striking Power and said the Hockey Nova Scotia official touched him first.

Hockey Nova Scotia immediately launched an investigation and banned Hubley from the rinks.

Power didnt want charges pressed at first but changed his mind later. Hubley was arrested and charged in December.