Canberra Brave chairman Peter Chamberlain has been stood down indefinitely after his involvement in an Australian Ice Hockey League crowd brawl in Sydney last weekend.
Chamberlain became involved in an altercation with the home bench in the dying stages of the Brave's game against the Sydney Bears, sparking a melee between fans.
Canberra Brave chairman Peter Chamberlain has been stood down indefinitely.
Photo: Jeffrey Chan
It is understood Chamberlain became involved in spat with the Bears' bench before he poured his beverage on to them from an elevated stand.
Footage sent to Fairfax Media shows a Bears fan then throwing a bin at Chamberlain and pushing him to the ground, prompting more spectators to get involved.
Brave director Warren Apps condemned the behaviour and said the board unanimously agreed to stand down Chamberlain at a meeting on Monday.
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A screenshot of a Facebook video showing the fight.
Photo: Facebook/AIHL Fans
"The behaviour on display on Saturday night is in no way representative of the aspirations of the league and its member clubs and is at odds with the professional standards we are all seeking to uphold," Apps said.
Chamberlain has apologised and said he was not proud of his "embarrassing" behaviour.
“I would like to apologise to the players, staff and fans of the Sydney Bears, the AIHL and the Brave for my part in the altercation at Saturdays game," Chamberlain said.
"Emotions from both sides became heightened in the final seconds of an otherwise fantastic game and I let mine get the better of me, retaliating to what I thought was inappropriate but conceding in hindsight, that in doing so, I only made matters worse.
"I am fully aware that interacting with the players bench during a game is unacceptable behaviour."
The Brave won the physical grudge match 3-1 with tensions also boiling on the ice throughout the game, but Chamberlain emphasised that was no excuse for his behaviour.
"As chairman of the Brave, I am responsible for setting the standards of culture and behaviour at our club and I am not proud of the role I played in this embarrassing incident," Chamberlain said.
"The Brave has worked hard to establish a family-friendly environment at our club before, during and after games and functions.
"While the game is highly charged and I wear my heart on my sleeve, I will do everything in my power to restore the confidence of those I have let down."
Apps and co-director Jamie Wilson will assume Chamberlain's role, while Chris Kubara will join the board.
Canberra sit top for the AIHL ladder with four wins from five games this season and next face the Perth Thunder away on Saturday and Sunday.
Warning: the below vidoes contain violence and bad language
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Eamonn Tiernan is a sports reporter with The Canberra Times
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