Airline kicks "unruly" Team Russia off flight

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Russia was partying on the ice and holding up the championship trophy, Wednesday night.

But the celebrations didn't end there, and it looks like they may have gone a little too far. News 4 has confirmed with Delta Airlines that Team Russia was not allowed to get on their flight to Atlanta at 6:10 a.m. Thursday morning.

In a statement from Delta Airlines, spokeswoman Susan Elliot said, “The crew of flight 1266 opted to deny boarding to 30 passengers displaying unruly behavior to ensure the safe operation of the flight. These passengers will be re-booked on a future flight.”

>> VIDEO: Is this Team Russia drinking alcohol?

>> PHOTO GALLERY: Team Russia celebrates while Team Canada looks on

>> The "unruly" team missed their flight, Thursday morning

When News 4 asked the airline if the team was intoxicated, they said they couldn’t comment because they don’t drug or alcohol test their passengers.

The players and their coaches are now staying at the Days Hotel, forced to spend an extra day after being ejected from their plane ride. We spoke to three people who say they witnessed Team Russia players drinking in the bar area at the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo at 2 and 3 o'clock Thursday morning.

Canadian hockey fan Kyle Scott said, “The whole team, we left the bar around 2 o’clock and they were still screaming ‘Russia,’ ‘Beat Canada, beat Canada, beat Canada.’ Just non stop.”

Scott said, “Right inside this bar they had all their family, that wasn’t staying at the hotel, and they just came back here. They blocked off, they didn’t even block it off. Kids were going up and getting autographs, they were signing sticks, they handed away all their hockey sticks, just gave them away. They definitely had a silly little smirk on their face all night.”

News 4 asked him what the Russian team was drinking.

His response was, “Vodka, a lot of vodka.”

Many were still wearing their medals and posing for pictures. In a hotel bar, like Adam's Mark, it is not illegal for minors to be at a table near the bar with guardians. But if they were at the bar actually drinking, that's another story. A State Liquor Authority spokesman said the SLA is looking into it. The Adam's Mark General Manager was unavailable for comment.

The World Junior Hockey Tournament is for hockey players ages 17- 19, so if they were drinking at the hotel, it was in violation of state liquor laws.