Throwback Thursday: A Detroit Red Wings Player’s Infamous Halloween Arrest

In a tale that could only happen in the world of sports, Riley Sheahan, a prized prospect in the Detroit Red Wings organization, found himself in hot water back in October 2012. He was arrested for having a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit—yes, four times! According to Mlive, Sheahan’s level was a staggering .30, also known in legal terms as "super drunk."

But the plot thickened when he handed the police a driver’s license belonging to his teammate, Brendan Smith. And just to top it all off, he was wearing a purple (Tinky Winky) Teletubby costume.

The incident occurred on October 29 in Grand Rapids, after he was pulled over for allegedly driving the wrong way down the street. Sheahan, who wouldn't turn 21 until December 7, claimed he had Smith’s license to sneak into bars. Classic.

Luckily, no one was injured in the time he was behind the wheel.

Who is Riley Sheahan?

Drafted by Detroit as the 21st overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, Sheahan recorded 194 points, including 74 goals and 120 assists, in 637 regular-season games. He played for six teams: Sabres, Seattle Kraken, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. Notably, he scored the first preseason goal in Kraken history on September 26, 2021.