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Report: Philly cops issue warrant for suspect in Winter Classic brawl

2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - New York Rangers v Philadelphia Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers punches Scott Hartnell #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Rob Carr

The 2012 Winter Classic was a glorious event that was partly marred by an ugly brawl between Philadelphia Flyers fans and New York Rangers fans. The incident gained even more notoriety when it was revealed one of the brawl’s victims was a former Marine that was injured in Iraq.

NBC Philadelphia reports that police have issued an arrest warrant for a man they believe threw the first punch in the incident.

Police say tips led them to the South Philadelphia Bar and Grill -- which is almost directly across the street from Geno’s -- where the suspect and friends were allegedly drinking on the day of the fight. A search warrant uncovered a credit card receipt for a bill totaling more than $225 that was paid just before 7 on the night of the fight.

That credit card matched the name of the man believed to have thrown the first punch at about 7:15 p.m., police sources said.

The suspect reportedly has a record that includes arrests involving “drugs, robbery with a gun and aggravated assault.”

Here’s video of the fight in case you didn’t get a chance to see it. Warning: there is some very graphic violence in this clip.