A Nashville Predators fan who was ejected from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final for throwing a catfish onto the ice has also been charged.
Jacob Waddell faces charges of disorderly conduct, disrupting meetings and processions, and possessing instruments of a crime.
The 36-year-old man was removed from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh for his actions 3:20 into the second period. It took a few minutes for the arena crew to remove the fish from the ice. The Predators were trailing 3-0 at the time and would eventually lose 5-3.
According to CBS Pittsburgh, Waddell says he bought the fish in Nashville, vacuum sealed it and stored it inside his compression shorts in order to get it into the arena. He then went into a washroom, wrapped the fish in a free T-shirt and towel handed out at the arena and went to his seat.
Like the octopus in Detroit, the catfish has become the traditional animal to toss onto the ice for fans in Nashville.
Pittsburgh’s mayor, William Peduto, released the following statement:
“This has turned into a whale of a story. From my perch, I agree with Mayor Barry that we shouldn’t be baited into interfering with this fish tale, but if the charges eventually make their way to a judge I hope the predatory catfish hurler who got the hook last night is simply sentenced to community service, perhaps cleaning fish at Wholey’s.”
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