Young Penguins Fan Who Had Puck Snatched: "I'm Sad For That Guy"
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Yes, there was a hockey game, yes the Penguins won, but that was not the big story of the night at CONSOL Energy Center. It was the great puck theft.
Okay, maybe that's a bit over the top, but the fact is, fans are indignant about a puck intended for an 8-year-old intercepted by an adult man who smiled and put it in his pocket.
Trey Dopson was at the game with his dad and ran down towards the Sabres' bench when a puck went into the area. Coach Dan Bylsma picked it up and looked for someone to toss it to.
He made eye contact with Trey and launched it over the glass.
Trey says, "This guy comes over and catches it and hides it behind his back and looks at me and smiles."
Trey says he thought the guy was going to hand it to him, not put it in his pocket and sit down, "I was stunned."
The crowd booed the man and Trey returned to his seat, but Dan Bylsma saw what happened and wasn't done. He had an assistant come up with another puck, and motioned to Trey to come down the aisle again.
"A Penguins seater caught it and gave it to me, and everyone gave me a standing ovation," says Trey. "I felt like a star."
As the man continued to be hassled by those around him, the Penguins were at work trying to make it up to Trey and his dad.
When the Dopsons got up to go to the bathroom, they ran into Pens mascot, Iceburgh, who whispered to Dave Dopson to take his son back to their seats.
Shortly after they got back, Iceburgh arrived with a Sidney Crosby jersey for Trey.
"He gave me a fist bump, and a high five, and we hugged each other and then everybody gave me a standing ovation again," said Trey.
Dave Dopson had the reactions any indignant dad would have, but suppressed them to show his son a good example. Dave says the man showed no remorse for his actions even flaunting the puck towards Trey as he left the game.
Trey's thoughts about the man now, "I'm sad for that guy who did it cause my dad says he probably had too many drinks."
In the end, Trey got two pucks, the jersey, a stick from one of the Sabres, and, "I think it's just a special memory," the little fan adds.
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