A Monument youth hockey practice that started like any other is now at the center of a felony child‑abuse investigation, after a Jan. 15 on‑ice collision left a 13‑year‑old player with a broken arm. The coach involved, 55‑year‑old Andrew Sherman, a founder and assistant with the Colorado Rampage (also called the Monument Rebels), surrendered on a warrant and is suspended while authorities and local hockey officials sort out what happened.
What the footage shows
Multiple rink cameras recorded Sherman and the player colliding near a blueline during a routine drill. An officer's affidavit reviewed by KOAA states that Sherman "clearly extends his left foot and slides it forward, causing him to fall backward onto his left arm," and the teenager was treated for a broken wrist. Additional video reviewed by the station shows Sherman later talking with the player on the bench and then walking him to a training room.
Defense and organizational response
Sherman's attorney told KOAA the clip is being misread, arguing the sequence shows "incidental contact consistent with the normal flow of hockey" rather than a crime. While that fight plays out, the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association has issued a summary suspension of Sherman while it prepares for a hearing, and emails obtained by the station show Rampage staff asking supporters to submit impact letters on his behalf.
Voices on both sides
The play has turned into a litmus test for where people draw the line between hard‑nosed coaching and potential criminal conduct. Tyler Shipstad, chief executive of Colorado Rampage Hockey, told CBS Colorado that bringing criminal charges against a youth coach in a case like this would set what he called a "terrifying precedent" for youth sports. The injured player's mother, speaking briefly to reporters, offered a short statement about her faith and said the family is finding comfort in scripture.
Arrest warrant and next steps
According to CBS Colorado, police obtained a felony child‑abuse arrest warrant on Jan. 30. Sherman later turned himself in and posted a $10,000 bond. A spokesperson for the El Paso County district attorney told the outlet the case is still under review and that no decision has been made about whether to file formal charges.
Legal context
Under Colorado law, child abuse covers conduct that injures a child's life or health, and cases that result in serious bodily injury are treated as felonies, with penalties that escalate based on how severe the harm is. The full language and sentencing ranges are laid out in the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS 18‑6‑401).
Why this matters locally
Even before prosecutors decide what to do, the fallout has already spread beyond the police file. The Rampage have suspended Sherman, and the incident is the subject of a SafeSport complaint reported by local outlets. The case also lands at a moment when Colorado's Safer Youth Sports Act, which requires prohibited‑conduct policies and coach training, is front and center in local club materials. The law's requirements are outlined in resources published by Monument Hockey.
From here, the El Paso County D.A.'s office will decide whether to accept the case for prosecution, while the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association hearing and any SafeSport review follow their own tracks. Whatever order those processes take, the rink video and the officer's affidavit are poised to be the key players in how this controversy ultimately gets resolved.
