A Nashville Predators fan apparently went to great lengths to throw a catfish on the ice of PPG Paints Arena during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday, and is now reportedly facing multiple charges as a result.
The catfish was thrown onto the ice early in the second period, causing a stoppage -- and subsequent mess and clean up -- with 16:40 remaining. That fan was escorted out of the arena.
On Tuesday, it was reported that fan was facing a trio of charges.
After being kicked out of the arena, the fan tweeted The Midday 180 radio show on 104.5 “The Zone” in Nashville. The Midday 180 Twitter account later stated the fans told them he was not arrested, but was not welcome in Pittsburgh again and was on his way home.
Jacob Waddell has since been charged with disorderly conduct, disrupting a meeting and possessing instruments of a crime.
Apparently that catfish made quite a journey, all the way up from Tennessee to Pittsburgh, before being flung on the ice.
Police say Waddell bought the catfish in TN, vacuum sealed it, put it in his compression shorts and removed it in a mens room at PPG Arena.
— Paul Rasmussen (@PaulRasmussenJr) May 30, 2017
The, um, tradition of throwing a catfish on the ice at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville dates back to 2003. During this year’s playoff run, even members of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans have been motivated to get in on the custom.
In Pittsburgh, however, Wholey Fish Market general manager Scott Thomas is cracking down on any Nashville fans wanting to purchase a catfish from his establishment.
He and Wholey’s staff have instituted a strict ID policy for customers buying catfish during the Stanley Cup Final. Anyone with a Tennessee drivers’ license is banned from purchasing catfish…and they’re not kidding around.
“We just don’t want anybody throwing stuff on our ice, so you gotta show ID,” he says. “We need to know who you are.”
Game 2 of this series goes Wednesday in Pittsburgh.