Golf courses are typically venues for leisurely rounds, polite conversations, and perhaps the occasional frustrated divot. They are less frequently the setting for physical confrontations, especially ones involving former professional athletes. However, a recent incident captured on video at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, just outside Red Deer, Alberta, appears to defy this norm.
The video circulating online depicts a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical altercation. Identified in the video is Nick Tarnasky, a former NHL player known for his physical style of play during his career. The footage shows Tarnasky in a dispute with another man. The situation escalates rapidly when the other man appears to advance towards Tarnasky. Tarnasky`s response was notably direct: he is seen lifting the man and depositing him into a nearby water hazard.
Undeterred by his unexpected aquatic immersion, the man re-engages. At this point, Tarnasky responds with a series of punches, reportedly accompanying each strike with a verbal “bang.” Following this exchange, the other individual is thrown a second time, again finding himself in the pond.
While the specific triggers for the confrontation are not entirely clear from the video alone, dialogue reportedly captured suggests the root cause was the perennial golf course grievance: the pace of play.
This display of off-ice physicality has not gone unnoticed, particularly by Red Deer Minor Hockey. Tarnasky, who played 245 NHL games between 2005 and 2010 with teams including Tampa Bay, Nashville, and Florida, accumulating nearly 300 penalty minutes, has since transitioned to coaching. He was recently announced as the head coach for the organization`s U17 AAA North Stars for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
In response to the circulating video, Red Deer Minor Hockey issued a statement acknowledging the incident. They confirmed they are “conducting our own internal investigation into the alleged incident.” The organization also noted their understanding that local policing authorities were reviewing the matter, indicating they would have no further comments pending the outcome of these reviews.
However, the stance from law enforcement appears slightly different. The RCMP, specifically the Blackfalds detachment covering the area, has stated they are *not* currently investigating the incident. According to Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, a public information officer, officers received a third-party report described as a “fight and an intoxicated individual” at the golf course. Crucially, no individual came forward directly to police to allege an assault or file a formal complaint. Without a complainant, the police investigation was concluded.
So, while Red Deer Minor Hockey navigates the complexities of an internal review spurred by a viral video of their newly appointed coach`s golf course altercation, the local authorities consider the matter closed from a criminal perspective, lacking a formal complaint. The Alberta Springs Golf Resort, the silent backdrop to this unexpected drama, has not yet publicly commented on the incident, perhaps leaving golfers to ponder whether aggressive “pace of play” enforcement is the new frontier in fairway etiquette.
