Screenshot from the viral video showing an altercation between two men at a central Alberta golf course.

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

GOLF COURSE BRAWL

Former pro player, current Red Deer Minor Hockey coach involved in viral golf course brawl

Jul 9, 2025 | 10:52 AM

Former pro hockey player Nick Tarnasky, who is the current head coach of Red Deer Minor Hockey‘s U17 AAA program, appears to find himself at the centre of a viral social media video.

The 40-year old Tarnasky is a former member of the WHL‘s Lethbridge Hurricanes where he spent a season and a half with during the 2002-2004 seasons.

The video shows a person who is purportedly Tarnasky, a prolific fighter mostly during his AHL career, getting into a confrontation with a fellow golfer.

Alberta RCMP confirm they received a call on July 4 at 5:45 p.m. about an incident at a central Alberta golf course, which rdnewsNOW a Pattison Media affiliate of CHATNEWSTODAY is choosing not to name.

The call was for the person seen in the video wearing a dark shirt — not Tarnasky.

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When police arrived, the man in the dark shirt had left. No charges are pending from that initial call, RCMP shared.

In May, Red Deer Minor Hockey shared Tarnasky was set to return as head coach of the U17 AAA North Stars for the 2025-26 season.

He took over the reins last October, taking the team from 0-5-1 and 24-7-0-3 by the end of last season.

He was also named U17 AAA AEHL Coach of the Year for 2024-25.

In a statement to rdnewsNOW, Red Deer Minor Hockey General Manager Jason Stephens said the following:

“We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey. At this time, given that we understand the matter is being reviewed by local policing authorities and we are conducting our own internal investigation into the alleged incident, we will have no further comments.”

Despite the organizations understanding, RCMP confirmed again Wednesday morning, there is no open investigation into this incident.

See the video below on X (contains harsh language):

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 231 pounds during his playing days, Tarnasky competed in 254 NHL games over five seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers.

He also played 486 games over nine AHL season where he had 881 penalty minutes fighting regularly according to hockeyfights.com.

During his time in the WHL from 2000-2004 he played for the Prince Albert Raiders (2 games), Vancouver Giants (10 games) and Kelowna Rockets (39 games) before joining the Lethbridge Hurricanes (91 games).

– With files from Jesse Gill