[Thorn]

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2004/05/29/477609.html

Cops in shinny conflict

By CP

CALGARY -- A man who called police to complain about young people playing street hockey was even angrier after officers picked up sticks and joined the game. "I was pretty choked," said Derek Salituri. "The teenagers ... were playing street hockey and they were smacking the ball off of my car and my wife's car."

Salituri said he feared for his private property and was upset about the loud music the six to eight teens were listening to.

He said one of the officers phoned to say the teens had been told "to be careful" and added that "if we were still concerned, to move the cars or talk to the kids ourselves."

NO-WIN SITUATION

A Calgary Police Service spokesman said the officers were put in a no-win situation in a hockey-mad city cheering on the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League final.

"We break up a street hockey game during the Stanley Cup finals or we can tell them to be careful and let them enjoy the game," said Sgt. Darryl Vanaalst.

"All we can do is put on a friendly face ... and try to enforce the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law."

The Calgary Flames and Tampa Bay Lightening are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven championship final.

[Corsair]

How...Canadian. The only place in the world where you see people taking their hockey sticks onto the plane as carry-on luggage.