The Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL decided to honor the largest North American land bird by bringing an actual, live condor onto the ice. A natural scavenger, the condor escaped its handler and hunted for Don Cherry or other carrion. This is what ensued.
The condor, sensing prey and irritated by a sub-par national anthem, escaped the grasp of its handler.
Surprisingly, a condor's talons aren't well-equipped to walk on ice.
The handler caught the condor, but took a nasty spill while trying to get back to the carpet.
He scurried over to the bench and terrified the players.
This guy wasn't about to mess with a condor.
Joe Krathwohl, the "Birdman of Las Vegas" who handled the condor, tried to explain what happened.
Here's the whole escape.
View this video on YouTube
H/T Sean Newell at Deadspin