A one-year peace bond has been issued for a 91原创 Island junior hockey team owner who got into a series of heated confrontations with the owners of another team and their coaching staff.
A provincial judge in Courtenay found that Marsha and Dave Webb, owners of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings, had reason to fear Kevin Ronald Spooner, an owner of the Campbell River Storm. The teams play in the 91原创 Island Junior Hockey League.
鈥淓ncouraged by the traditions of his sport, [Spooner] believes that aggressive confrontations, in which his size and bad temper are intimidating factors, are an appropriate way of resolving disputes,鈥� Judge Ted Gouge said in his decision, posted online last week.
In late 2013 or early 2014, a player who had formerly played for the Storm was recruited by and joined the Glacier Kings. Spooner was upset and thought that compensation was due to the Storm under the league rules.
At a game at the Storm arena on Jan. 24, 2014, Spooner confronted Dave Webb on the concourse. Spooner shouted profanities at Webb and behaved in an aggressive manner. As he walked away from Webb, Spooner smacked him on the head behind the ear. Webb was not injured.
After the game, Spooner confronted Glacier Kings coach Joey Ewing outside the arena, removed his jacket and tie, and challenged Ewing to a fist fight. Ewing got on the team bus instead.
At a league meeting two days later, the president asked the Webbs about the incident. As they were talking, Spooner walked in. Spooner said to Marsha Webb something to the effect that he couldn鈥檛 have hit Dave Webb, because if he had, Webb wouldn鈥檛 have got up.
In April 2014, Spooner confronted Ewing once more about the player issue. Spooner pushed Ewing hard enough that he lost his balance. Another person intervened and a frustrated Spooner said something about how he had wanted to smash Ewing in the face.
鈥淚n reference to the encounter, [Spooner] said, 鈥楾his is hockey 鈥� feelings run high,鈥� 鈥� the judge said in his decision.
The Webbs have not seen Spooner since January 2014 and no longer attend games in Campbell River because of him. Gouge said it is reasonable for the Webbs to fear similar confrontations with Spooner.
Under the peace bond, Spooner must not communicate directly with the Webbs (only indirectly via coaching staff regarding hockey business matters). He must stay at least 10 metres away from them and 500 metres from their home.
