Halifax Thunderbirds player cited for assault, suspended after incident in Colorado

A Halifax Thunderbirds player has found himself in hot water after a recent altercation with fans following a National Lacrosse League game against the Colorado Mammoth in Denver. Tyson Bell, a 30-year-old player from St. Catharines, Ont., has been cited for assault by authorities after video footage captured him throwing a punch at a fan and taking a swing at another with his lacrosse stick.

The incident occurred as Bell was leaving the floor at the end of the game, resulting in a minor injury to one of the fans involved. The Denver Police Department report states that Bell will appear in court on Jan. 22 to address the charges. In response to the incident, the Thunderbirds have suspended Bell, although no further details have been provided by the team.

The National Lacrosse League has launched an investigation into the altercation, with lacrosse journalist Dan Arestia expressing shock at the incident. Arestia described Bell as a “fiery player” who often faces insults from the stands, but noted that such behavior is unprecedented for the athlete.

However, this incident is not the first time the Halifax Thunderbirds have been involved in altercations with fans. A year prior, another player from the team attempted to climb out of the penalty box to confront a fan, raising questions about the team’s culture and behavior.

As the Thunderbirds prepare to face the Albany Firewolves on Saturday night, the lacrosse community is left pondering the underlying issues within the team. Is it a locker-room problem? A cultural issue? Only time will tell as the NLL continues to investigate the situation.