Chris Ewen (pictured left) and Tyler Driedger (pictured right) smile before playing a game of competitive hockey against each other for the first time in their lives. “We've played together for 10 or 12 years and we've heard the question lots, ‘Who would win in a fight?’ Tyler wanted to fight and we were talking about it for a while, probably for about five or six years, because we're both very competitive. The game got out of hand, so we gave the fans a show,” 48-year-old Ewen explained. (Chris Ewen/submitted)

By Shane Clausing, CKOM News Staff

Bloodlines and Blows: The viral father/son Sask. Senior A hockey fight

Dec 30, 2024 | 3:36 PM

A family battle royal on ice between 48-year-old Chris Ewen and his 27-year-old son Tyler Driedger during a Senior A hockey game is still buzzing about the internet, a week later.

On Dec. 21, Ewen and the Langham Vikings of the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League were in Perdue playing Driedger and the Pirates in what was the final game before the Christmas break.

The Pirates and Vikings game was not close as the Pirates dismantled the Vikings 18-4. It was late in the third period when Ewen and Driedger decided to drop the gloves and have a fight between father and son.

“We’ve played together for 10 or 12 years and we’ve heard the question lots, ‘Who would win in a fight?’ Tyler wanted to fight and we were talking about it for a while, probably for about five or six years, because we’re both very competitive. The game got out of hand, so we gave the fans a show,” Ewen explained.

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“We work together as well. We’re both carpenters, so we work together a lot and a lot of coworkers see us bickering on site and they’ll look at us and be like, ‘Just go!’” Driedger said. “It was kind of for all of the people that have always asked the question of who’s the tougher one? Who is it? The young bull or is it the old man that still got it going? So it was kind of one of those things where we had to find out once and for all.”

Ewen is used to fighting as his senior hockey career has spanned three decades, but Driedger said this was a rare experience for him.

“It was one of those things where all the fans have seen his side of the story many a times,” Driedger said. “I’m new to the whole fighting scene, so it was one of those things where it was kind of keep your head up and if we’re gonna do it, we got to do it well.”

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Ewen said this was the first time he and his son had ever played against each other in a competitive game of hockey.

The fight also came on fan appreciation night in Perdue.

“It was one of those, ‘Let’s do it the fans, because it was our fan appreciation night,’” Dreiger said. “I think we had over 150 people there of friends, family and people that we see on a daily basis. It was the best way for us to at least grab their attention.”

Although some might have thought Christmas dinner between them might’ve been a little awkward, both said that simply was not the case.

Ewen said the reaction from his family has been nothing but positive.

“They understand why we did it. A lot of friends were surprised because Tyler and I get along very well — there’s a whole bunch of mutual respect between the two of us. Some people were surprised at first, but they know who we are. We’re both competitors and hockey is a source of entertainment,” Ewen explained.

“Our fight in my opinion, would be the same as an MMA fight. You know, there’s two combatants going at it, and neither of us wanted to lose.”

In the week since their fight went viral across the internet, the two can’t believe how much attention it’s gotten.

The video has picked up millions of views across various different social media platforms and has been featured on websites like Barstool Sports.

Ewen and Driedger both said they were OK after the fight and didn’t have any major injuries.

The rematch between the Pirates and Vikings is set for Jan. 18 in Langham. Ewen suggested the fight with his son was probably a one-and-done.