Red Devils host Clippers in Game #4, extra security ordered

File photo (Aaron Hall)

There will be extra security at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena on Saturday, as the Wallaceburg Red Devils face a do-or-die situation in their Ontario Junior ‘B’ Lacrosse League playoff series against Windsor.

The Red Devils are down 2-1 in their best-of-five playoff series, and they will host the Clippers at 4 p.m.

The extra security was ordered by the league, after an ugly end to the game in Windsor on Wednesday, which resulted in a Red Devils coach being charged with assault with a weapon.

League ordered security

Chris Dawson, general manager for the Red Devils, confirmed that the league has ordered extra security at both arenas for the remainder of the series.

Dawson said members of the Chatham-Kent Police Service will be present at the arena on Saturday.

He said there could also be security guards present.

The exact mix of security was still being confirmed, Dawson said Saturday morning.

Ugly end to Game #3

The rivalry between both clubs took an ugly turn on Wednesday after Game #3 in Windsor.

Windsor Police officials say shortly before 10 p.m., patrol officers were dispatched to a disturbance at Forest Glade Arena.

Officers arrived to find large crowds of people exiting the arena, and were directed towards the area outside the dressing rooms where Game #3 between Windsor and Wallaceburg had taken place.

Officers attended the outer dressing room area in the arena and noted a large crowd was still gathered near a temporary barricade separating both dressing room outer areas, police say.

“Officers dispersed the crowd in what was described as a tense atmosphere,” police officials stated in a press release.

“Officers were then advised that an adult male had allegedly assaulted another adult male with a lacrosse stick. An investigation into this complaint was launched, witnesses were spoken to, and video surveillance was reviewed.”

Windsor Police officials say an 18-year-old male victim was located and confirmed to have minor injuries.

A 30-year-old adult male was identified and arrested at the arena without incident.

He faces one count of assault with a weapon.

He was released on a Promise to Appear with a future court date of August 1, 2017.

What started the incident

Reports say the Red Devils and Clippers have varying accounts of what triggered the post-game antics.

Clippers officials say a Wallaceburg player took a swing at a Windsor player during the game.

Wallaceburg officials say the Red Devils took multiple head shots from Windsor players throughout the game.

Wallaceburg officials are also blaming a lack of security around the dressing rooms in Windsor as well, reports say.

“The Windsor Police would like to remind the public that competitive sporting matches can often get emotional and intense, but the fair play and competition should take place during the sporting event,” Windsor Police officials stated.

“Competitive sport often has a contact element involved with the players, but all citizens are still bound by the law when it comes to their actions.”

On the floor

Each game in the back-and-forth series has been tightly contested.

Windsor took Game #1 16-14, Wallaceburg won Game #2 17-11, and Windsor won Game #3 11-8.

Cory Lucier and Evan Mathany are leading the Red Devils in scoring during the playoffs, as they both has 12 points.

Lucier has 6 goalsd and 6 assists and Mathany has 3 goals and 9 assists.

Kyle Dawsion has 7 goals and 3 assists for 10 points, while Carter Hastings has 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points in just two game in the series.

Noble Jacobs has a 12.67 goals against average and a .753 save percentage in net for Wallaceburg.

Jacobs has played all 180 minutes in the series.


– Photo credit: Aaron Hall

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