Bell Centre staff won’t be punished after Senators fans harassed at Habs game
Bell Centre staff won’t be punished after Senators fans harassed at Habs game
Owners of NHL’s Canadiens, Senators met with Katie and Annie Kerrick to apologize on behalf of fans
Apr 20, 2015 1:31 PM ET
Kate McKenna, CBC News
There will be “no repercussions” for the security attendants at the Bell Centre who did nothing when two Ottawa sisters asked them to intervene during an NHL playoff game between the Senators and the host Montreal Canadiens.
Katie Kerrick,19, and her sister, Annie, 23, were hit with wound-up towels cursed at, and called derogatory names after wearing Senators jerseys to the second game of the Stanley Cup playoff series on Friday.
Kerrick said that when she asked an attendant for help, the attendant said, “‘What do you want me to do? Give them a mean look?’”
A Bell Centre spokesman, Donald Beauchamp, said because Katie Kerrick didn’t file a formal complaint with the centre, no one will be held accountable for the incident. Instead, security will “learn” from what happened.
“There’s no repercussions other than the people are made more aware of the situation, and they’re more vigilant,” he said.
He confirmed there’s increased security during the playoffs, particularly if the teams are going up against rivals.
‘It’s very obvious it was an isolated incident.’- Donald Beauchamp, Bell Centre spokesman
Beauchamp was tight-lipped on how staff are trained, citing security concerns, but said the building is “extremely secure.”
He described what happened to the Kerricks as “unfortunate,” adding: “It’s very obvious it was an isolated incident.”
Canadiens, Senators owners met with women
The Kerricks, who hail from Ottawa, are longtime hockey fans and cheer for the Canadiens when they’re not playing the Senators.
Katie Kerrick told CBC News that she can’t support the Canadiens after what happened to her on Friday.
“I used to like the Canadiens, but I can’t honestly say that anymore,” she said.
Both teams tried to make it up to the sisters during the third game of the series on Sunday night, when Senators owner Eugene Melnyk hosted the women in his private suite.
Beauchamp confirmed Canadiens owner Geoff Molson also met with the sisters, but would not say whether they were offered seats to other Habs games.
“At the end of the day, they’re hockey fans and we wanted them to have a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, that did not happen.”
The Canadiens lead the opening-round series 3-0. Game 4, which could see the Senators eliminated, is Wednesday in Ottawa.
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/canada/montreal/topstories/bell-centre-staff-won-t-be-punished-after-senators-fans-harassed-at-habs-game-1.3040683