After Brawl, Chicago Wins Ihl Title

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The atmosphere inside the Rosemont Horizon reached a fevered pitch. And that was before the opening faceoff of Game 7 of the Turner Cup finals.

The defending International Hockey League champion Detroit Vipers and the Chicago Wolves staged what amounted to a bench-clearing brawl as both teams headed off the ice after pregame warm-ups.

The Wolves later scored three third-period goals, capturing their first Cup with a 3-0 victory.

"This has been a hotly contested series and both teams are playing with a great deal of intensity," IHL Commissioner Bob Ufer said. "But this is certainly something you don't want to happen."

As both teams skated off, and with only a few players left on the ice, Detroit's Andy Bezeau fired a shot toward goaltenders Wendell Young and Stephane Beauregard.

What happened next resembled a scene from "Slapshot," as Bezeau jousted with both Chicago goalies.

Center Steve Martins quickly came to the defense of his teammates and several players went on the ice. Several more punches were exchanged before the coaching staffs and police officers restored order. Players joined the brawl in varying degrees of clothing. Some just wearing long-johns and the garter belts that hold up their socks.