When you gotta go, you gotta go, and apparently having to go is the reason longtime Detroit Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka is gone. Follow me?

Let's rewind a little bit. We told you at the end of March that fans were shocked after learning that Al Sobotka had been fired from the Red Wings organization. A staple with the Red Wings for 51 years, Al Sobotka was as much a Red Wing as the players. At 68 years old, Sobotka had parted ways with the NHL team, but the reasoning was a mystery.

Get our free mobile app

Fans were clamoring for answers as to why the man known for swinging an octopus and making sure the ice was in perfect playing condition, was gone. I mean, after all, they actually named giant purple Detroit Red Wings mascot Al after the guy, so what happened? Both the Red Wings and Sobotka were keeping quiet except to say that Sobotka had hired an attorney. Everyone was in the dark, until now.

So Why Was Al Sobotka Fired From the Detroit Red Wings?

According to the Detroit Free Press, Sobotka was fired for peeing in a drain. Yes, peeing in a drain.

Sobotka's lawyers stated the facts of the incident that led to the firing in the case filed in Wayne County Circuit Court. The lawsuit indicated that Sobotka has been diagnosed with benign prostatic hypertrophy, which causes a frequent and uncontrollable need to urinate.

On the day in question, February 2, 2022, Sobotka drove a Zamboni machine into its garage at Little Caesars Arena after cleaning the ice on the rink. Due to his condition, he needed to relieve himself and the closest restroom was too far away. According to the Detroit Free Press, Sobotka decided to use one of the drains that lead into a sewer, that was used for ice runoff from Zamboni machines.

To make a long story short, while in fulls stream, Sobotka was spotted by another male employee who decided to turn him in, and well... you know the rest. It was game over.

So what's next? Well, Sobotka's legal team has filed a lawsuit stating, "that his rights were violated under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, arguing that Sobotka was discriminated against on the basis of his age (68) and disability."

Stay tuned...

Things That FEEL Illegal in Michigan That Aren't

No, none of these are against actual Michigan laws...They just feel like they are part of some "Michigander Honor Code" and should still not be violated.

 

More From 99.1 WFMK