For years, parents and teachers alike have taught that laser pointers are dangerous and can be harmful on the eyes. But it appears one father felt that his daughter's hockey game was the lone exception to that rule.
Joseph Cordes, 42, of Winthrop Mass. is being accused of directing a laser pointer at players on the ice during Winthrop's high school tournament game with Medway-Ashland last week. Cordes, who's daughter plays for Winthrop, was allegedly flashing the laser pointer in the eyes of the Medway-Ashland goalie, Kathryn Hamer, who said it definitely had an impact on her play.
Winthrop went on to win the game, 3-1, and move onto the quarterfinals round of the state tournament.
The action stirred up controversy at the game, as the Superintendent of Winthrop schools ordered Cordes out of the arena, but it appears that was only the beginning of the trouble for Cordes.
According to Winthrop Police, Cordes will be charged with disturbing the peace for his actions at the game.
Cordes, who has not been arrested on the charges, expressed regret for his actions and admitted his faults in an interview with WBZ-TV on Wednesday.
"I wish I could undo it," Cordes said of using the laser pointer. "I feel like a complete jerk. It was very stupid, completely immature for a 42-year-old man to be doing that.
"My daughter, the humiliation I put her through is sickening to tell you the truth," Cordes added.
Parents of the Medway-Ashland team had originally asked that the two teams replay the third period, but the MIAA denied the request.
Winthrop went on to lose their next game to Braintree in a shutout on Sunday night.
