Charges against Predators fan who threw catfish onto ice withdrawn

PITTSBURGH — Charges filed against a man who threw a catfish onto the ice as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators competed Monday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final have been withdrawn.

Jacob Waddell, 36, of Nolensville, Tennessee, threw the fish over the glass surrounding the rink at PPG Paints Arena about 23 minutes into the game, police said.

The game was stopped until the fish was removed from the ice. Arena security detained Waddell and escorted him to a security office.

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"I was a little surprised," Pens fan Eric Shank said. "I was more wondering how he got it in there, that was my main question."

The answer came from a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 11 News.

When asked how he was able to get the fish into the arena, Waddell said he vacuum packed it and brought it from Tennessee. When entering the arena in Pittsburgh, he put the vacuum-packed fish inside his compression shorts so that it would not be detected, according to the complaint.

Once inside PPG Paints Arena, Waddell went to a restroom to remove the fish from his pants, the complaint said. He told authorities that he wrapped it in a free T-shirt and towel that was given out and held onto it until he threw it onto the ice.

"Putting it where it was eventually wasn't that hard, because I played ball all of my life so wearing compression shorts wasn't uncomfortable," Waddell told

"Having a gigantic fish down your crotch in compression shorts was uncomfortable, but it was good."

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With the exception of “hat tricks,” patrons are warned about throwing objects onto the ice by public announcement and in writing on every ticket, police said in the complaint.

Waddell was initially charged with possessing instruments of crime, disrupting meetings and disorderly conduct. The charges have since been withdrawn.

Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Mike Manko released the following statement Wednesday.

"Having reviewed the affidavit involving Mr. Waddell as well as the television coverage of the incident, District Attorney Zappala has made the determination that the actions of Mr. Waddell do not rise to the level of criminal charges. As such, the three charges filed against Mr. Waddell will be withdrawn in a timely manner."

Predators fans have made it a tradition to throw catfish onto the ice in Nashville, taking a page from the Detroit Red Wings' time-honored octopi-throwing tradition.

It's an incident Wholey's Fish Market in the Strip District is working to make sure doesn't happen again.

"We had two people so far come in from Nashville who attempted to get it," said Ned Carroll with Wholey's. "We ID'd them and as the Soup Nazi would say, 'no catfish for you!'"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group