.jpg&w=244&h=193&zc=1 "2013 World Juniors: USA's Housley Right Man for the Job")
UPDATED: NBC Sports Analyst Mike Milbury Charged With Assault of 12-Year Old Hockey Player
UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: Milbury's lawyer, Daniel Rabinovitz, just released the following statement about today's charges:
“Mike Milbury denies any allegations that there was an assault of any kind. He simply intervened in an altercation between his son and an opposing player. No one was struck, no one was injured and no one was threatened.”
That is certainly in keeping with the unnamed family friend who spoke to Justin from Days of Y'Orr's earlier today. I wouldn't expect much to come of this charge. It's noteworthy, certainly, because of Milbury's past history with famous brawls and his on-air persona, but I doubt it'll amount to anything in a court of law.
UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: Our friends over at Days of Y'Orr just posted an exclusive side to this story. Apparently, a friend of the Milbury family who was at the game in question and saw the entire thing unfold. According to their source, who requested anonymity, Mad Mike may have just been simply defending his own son. Decide for yourself:
"Milbury's 12-year-old son was playing in the game. A kid (the alleged victim) from the opposing team kept trying to start a fight with Little Milbury because of who his dad is -- 'Hey, you're a Milbury. Fight me.' sort of deal. Sounds reasonable. Who wouldn't want to say they got into a fight with a Milbury? According to our source, Little Milbury isn't much of a fighter (not to mention fighting is illegal in pee wee hockey) and wouldn't oblige. The other kid kept going after him anyways. Eventually Mike had enough and went up to the kid, grabbed him by the jersey and [said] 'What the &$%# is your problem?' The kid's dad flipped out and reported it to police."
I'm not one to condone any kind of violence towards children, but if someone was incessantly going after my kid, I'd probably flip my lid too. Interesting.
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According to WCVB-TV in Boston, Versus analyst Mike Milbury has been charged with assault and battery of a 12-year old boy.
The report states that the former Bruins player and Islanders GM allegedly assaulted the boy at Dexter School Ice Rink in Brookline last week.
Though he is currently an assistant coach for a local youth team, the report says the player in question was on an opposing team. NBC Sports did not immediately return a call requesting comment on Milbury's status with the company.
More details from a Boston Herald report:
"The incident allegedly occurred at the end of the Winter Classic between the Boch Blazers for whom Milbury coaches and his son plays forward vs. the Boston Junior Black Hawks. It is alleged that after Milbury’s son and a player for the Black Hawks got into a scrape on the ice, Milbury charged out onto the rink and verbally berated and grabbed and shook the 12-year-old opposing player."
According to the Herald, neither Milbury's attorney nor the head coach of the Junior Black Hawks replied to numerous phone calls. Milbury will be summons to Brookline District Court to answer the charges, but there is no.
More to come on Tonight's Healthy Scratches as details emerge.
