NHL hockey and its fans pride themselves on the distinct image they have from the other major North American sports. For starters, its most rabid fans have the wherewithal in them to riot for no legitimate reason other than #sportz. Beyond that, their fanaticism and penchant for unruliness is similar to European soccer, where fans love to light shit on fire inside of stadiums—sometimes in protest, other times just to celebrate like madmen. In the NHL, however, and in stadiums and arenas across the United States, you totally can't light stuff on fire, especially if it's inside an arena containing tens of thousands of people.
Detroit Red Wings fan Lena Sinishtaj is learning this while sitting in jail right now. Before Game 7 of the Red Wings/Lightning playoff series in Tampa, a giant Lightning flag was being held up and passed around in the arena. Sinishtaj, a 35-year-old Michigan resident, decided that she didn't like the flag, and that it'd have to be burned.
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While 200 fellow NHL fans stood under the Lightning flag, Sinishtaj whipped out a lighter and tried to set it on fire, causing a small burn. She was arrested right before the opening faceoff. Police charged her with first-degree arson of an occupied structure, and she's currently being held without bond.
The Lightning won the game 2-0. So much for that trip to Florida, Ms. Sinishtaj.
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[via Eye On Hockey]
