Pucky the Whale was greeting people in the stands at a minor league hockey game when a drunken fan tackled and then punched him on Saturday, police said.
Saturday’s Connecticut Family Whale evening game went from a G-rated event to something violent near section 105, all over a bet Kevin O’Connell, 28, of East Hartford, made with a friend, police said.
As the hockey team’s mascot was greeting fans, O’Connell, attacked, police said.
Immediately, dozens of upset parents reacted. They helped Hartford Police Officer John Zweibelson and the XL Center staff find O’Connell, who police said, was hiding in section 206.
O’Connell told police he tackled “Pucky” over a bet with a friend.
O’Connell was charged with one count of second-degree breach of peace and will appear in court on Feb. 2 – Groundhog Day.
He will not be allowed to attend future events at the XL Center.
