Penguins

Penguins forward Teddy Blueger involved in summer league’s first-ever on-ice fight

Tim Benz
Slide 1
Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Penguins’ Teddy Blueger celebrates a goal against the Devils on April 22, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena.

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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Teddy Blueger just made a little history. He is currently participating in Da Beauty League. It’s a summer league that features many NHL and top-notch college and amateur players.

Founded in 2015, it is believed that the league has never featured a fight. Until Monday.

And Blueger was involved.

Via SI.com, Blueger was playing in one of the league’s semifinal games. Along the way, he scored four goals en route to a 12-3 romp.

Apparently, an opponent on the other team, newly signed Boston Bruin Vinni Lettieri, didn’t like Blueger’s club running up the score — or he just didn’t like something that Blueger did — because the two NHLers ended up dropping the gloves after Blueger scored the 12th goal.

As you can hear, the broadcasters on FLO hockey seem stunned that such a fracas transpired.

Blueger may have been smiling at the end. But I don’t think it was a staged altercation just to entertain the fans. If it was, it might have gotten out of hand, as the two players were really throwing big punches. Lettieri skated away with a bloody face.

According to Hockeyfights.com, Blueger has four career fights in 205 NHL games. Lettieri has just one and two more when he was in the minors. So these aren’t two regular brawlers.


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Other Penguins in action include Jake Guentzel, Jason Zucker and newly acquired forward Ryan Poehling. Pens prospects Mitch Reinke and Tristan Broz have participated too.

Some NHLers from other teams include Matt Dumba, Nate Schmidt, Brock Nelson, Kieffer Bellows, Jonny Brodzinski and former Penguins Alex Goligoski and Nick Bjugstad.

Blueger’s squad (Team Tradition) will be in the John Scott Cup Final on Wednesday night.

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