Unruly Allegheny County hockey fan found guilty, fined

Keith Gushard, The Meadville Tribune, Pa.
·2 min read

May 4—An Allegheny County man has been found guilty of disorderly conduct for fighting with another man at a high school hockey game in Meadville back in October.

Ronald J. Strilka Jr. was charged by Meadville Police Department with disorderly conduct for the incident at the Oct. 23, 2023, Meadville Bulldogs vs. Montour Spartans hockey game at the Meadville Area Recreation Complex (MARC).

Strilka, 53, of McKees Rocks, failed to appear for a hearing on Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Samuel Pendolino and was found guilty. Strilka was fined $300 plus $155.53 in court costs to be paid by June 3, according to court documents.

The charge, a summary offense, carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $300 fine, if convicted.

Strilka had entered a not-guilty plea to the charge on Dec. 5, 2023, according to court records.

Hearings on the matter had been scheduled for Jan. 23 of this year, then to March 6 and then Thursday with Strilka failing to show up for court, according to court records.

Strilka got into an argument with a 48-year-old Saegertown area man at the game, according to court documents. Police allege Strilka "did push the victim and yell at him several times that he would kill him."

The incident began over action that happened in the hockey game around 9:30 p.m. that day, Meadville Police Chief Michael Stefanucci told the Tribune when the charge was filed back in October.

The victim had made a verbal comment about what had just happened on the ice during the game, which drew a verbal response from Strilka, Stefanucci told the Tribune at the time.

The victim then tried to defuse the situation verbally and was distancing himself from Strilka by attempting to go outside the arena, but Strilka followed, the chief said. The disorderly conduct citation was issued to Strilka by police, who had been called to the scene by MARC staff, Stefanucci said.

Keith Gushard can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.