An incident at an Alberta golf course involving former NHL player Nick Tarnasky has prompted an internal investigation by Red Deer Minor Hockey. The confrontation, reportedly sparked by a disagreement over the pace of play, escalated into a physical altercation captured on video circulating online.
The events took place recently at the Alberta Springs Golf Resort, located just outside Red Deer. The video shows Tarnasky, now a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey, engaged in a heated argument with another individual. The situation quickly turned physical when the other man advanced, leading Tarnasky to physically handle the situation in a manner perhaps more familiar to the hockey rink than the fairway.
According to the video, Tarnasky is seen lifting and throwing the man into a nearby pond. Following this impromptu dip, the individual emerged and re-engaged, at which point Tarnasky responded with a series of punches, reportedly accompanying each strike with the exclamation, “bang.” The encounter concluded with the man being thrown a second time.
Tarnasky, 40, had a career spanning 245 games in the National Hockey League between 2005 and 2010, playing for teams including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers. Known for his physical style, he accumulated nearly 300 penalty minutes during his NHL tenure before continuing his career in the American Hockey League and eventually transitioning into coaching. He was recently announced to return as the head coach for the U17 AAA North Stars for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
In response to the video, Red Deer Minor Hockey issued a statement acknowledging awareness of the situation involving one of their coaches. The organization stated it is conducting an internal investigation. They also noted an understanding that local policing authorities might be reviewing the matter, indicating they would not provide further comments during the ongoing review.
However, the status of the police involvement appears less clear. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has stated they are *not* currently investigating the incident. According to a public information officer, officers received a report about a fight and an intoxicated person at the golf course, but this was a third-party report. Crucially, the individual who reported the incident had left the scene before police arrived. More significantly, no direct participant in the altercation has come forward to the RCMP to allege an assault or file a formal complaint.
Consequently, without an official complaint from those involved, the police investigation into the matter has been concluded.
While Red Deer Minor Hockey proceeds with its internal review regarding their coach`s conduct, the legal consequences appear limited unless one of the parties involved decides to pursue the matter with law enforcement. The incident serves as a rather unique crossover between competitive sports physicality and the typically more sedate world of recreational golf.
