Hockey Mascot Rolls With The Punches

Mike Centanni was only filling in as the Knights mascot when the opposing coach tried to knock his fillings out.

Centanni, a mascot for the Atlanta Knights of the International Hockey League, won’t press assault charges against Cincinnati Cyclones coach Don Jackson.

Knights chief executive officer Charles Felix said the team would file a protest with the league office. “We’re going to leave it in the hands of the league,” Felix said. “It’s an unfortunate incident.”

Jackson climbed over the glass partition behind his bench Saturday night and threw at least two punches at the 26-year-old Centanni, who was filling in for the regular mascot, portraying Sir Slapshot in an inflatable uniform.

Centanni, who sustained a cut lip, filled out a police report and authorities discussed the incident with Jackson after the game, won by Atlanta 7-2. Jackson had no comment.

As part of a routine, Centanni crashed into the glass partition behind the Cyclones bench. Jackson went after Centanni, knocking him down and punching him.

“I always check to see if anyone is by the glass, and no one was,” Centanni said. “I hit the glass. I started walking away, and I saw his leg (Jackson’s) coming over the glass. He hit me in the mouth and another two times that I knew of in the back. By that time, the crowd got right in and got him away. They made a human wall.”

Jackson played on two Stanley Cup championship teams at Edmonton and also played for the Minnesota North Stars and New York Rangers.