NHL Fan Arrested After Allegedly Biting Off Someone’s Finger During Wild Brawl At Bruins-Coyotes Game

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There were plenty of questions surrounding the Arizona Coyotes’ “decision” to relocate from Gila River Arena in favor of the 5,000-seat arena it now shares with Arizona State University following the end of the previous NHL season. There’s little doubt the team would’ve preferred to avoid that change of scenery, but there was only so much it could do after it found itself on the verge of being evicted from its former home last year due to the well-documented financial struggles that have plagued the embattled franchise.

There was some concern many hockey fans would balk at the price the Coyotes are charging for tickets to attend a game at Mullett Arena (especially when you consider the product Arizona has trotted out onto the ice in recent years). However, based on how things have panned out (at least so far), it appears the uniquely cozy nature of the barn has been a solid asset when it comes to luring in spectators who are at least partially intrigued by the novelty.

While some people also voiced concerns the size of the arena would serve as a hindrance when it comes to fostering the kind of environment you expect at an NHL game, it also seems like those worries were fairly overblown.

Fans of a ‘Yotes team that’s gotten off to a fairly unremarkable 9-14 start may still not have a ton to cheer for, but the games have still attracted plenty of passionate spectators—including a handful who went a bit overboard by engaging in a brawl that broke out in the lower bowl during Arizona’s 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday night.

According to TMZ, that fracas resulted in the ASU Police Department handing out citations to five participants and hitting a sixth with a felony charge after a woman was booked for aggravated assault for allegedly biting off another person’s fingertip during the melee.

I can only assume this will somehow result in Brad Marchand being suspended for three games.