A youth hockey coach in Colorado has been arrested and may face federal child abuse charges after he collided with a hockey player on the ice, causing him to fall
According to CBS Colorado, Andrew Sherman is the owner and coach of the Colorado Rampage AAA Hockey team.
Video taken during practice shows Sherman skating across the ice rink and in between several skaters when his extended foot catches the skate of a 13-year-old boy, causing him to fall onto his arm. When police reviewed this footage, they claimed Sherman “clearly extends his left foot and slides it forward,” intentionally.
Some parents came forward to claim that Sherman had previously bullied this youth athlete and had a history of “picking on” team members. Several sources reported that the athlete did suffer a broken arm as a result of the fall.
However, Sherman’s attorneys provided additional video footage from the facility, showing Sherman checking on the skater after the fall, escorting him to an athletic trainer, and returning to the medical training area multiple times throughout the practice. Sherman also contacted the skater’s parents to alert them of the situation.
Sherman’s attorney said the video shows “incidental contact consistent with the normal flow of hockey” not a crime.
The CEO of Colorado Rampage Hockey, Tyler Shipstad, told CBS News, “There was no intentional act. To criminally charge a youth hockey coach with child abuse under these circumstances sets a terrifying precedent for youth sports across the country. If allowed to stand, routine incidental contact could expose coaches to criminal prosecution, creating a chilling effect where adults hesitate to coach at all. This should concern every coach, parent, and youth sports organization in America."
The El Paso County district attorney’s office is reviewing all the evidence to determine if the charges should be filed. No timeline has been provided.
