NHL

Sean Avery has a brass set -- how else do you explain the fact he asked the police that arrested him for a favor ... right after he called them "fat little pigs"?

As TMZ first reported, the NHL star was arrested after he shoved a police officer who came to his house Thursday night after complaints of loud noise from his neighbor. During the arrest, Sean called the cops the aforementioned name ... and challenged them to a fight.

But get this ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ that when Avery was being released, he had a friend ask the officers if they would let Avery go out the back door ... so as to avoid

.

Law enforcement denied his request and treated him just like everyone else.

NHL star Sean Avery challenged cops to a FIGHT when they responded to his Hollywood Hills home this morning ... calling them, "Fat little pigs" ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told cops were dispatched to the home over a complaint about loud music -- and when they arrived to Avery's pad, the hockey star was NOT happy to see them.

Sources tell us 31-year-old Avery immediately began running his mouth at the cops -- telling them he would fight all of them ... even challenging them to, "Come back without your badges."

During the incident, Avery -- who famously dated Elisha Cuthbert a while back -- allegedly shoved an officer and slammed the front door on the cops.

We're told cops began speaking with Avery through the door -- and warned him that if he didn't open the door, they would break it down. That's when Avery decided to open up and cooperate.

As TMZ first reported, Avery was hauled to a nearby station and booked for battering a peace officer. He has since been released after posting bail.

NHL star Sean Avery was arrested early this morning after he shoved a police officer who was trying to break up a loud party at his home in the Hollywood Hills ... TMZ has learned.

According to law enforcement sources, a neighbor called police to complain about the noise coming from Avery's home. When police arrived at about 1:00 AM, we're told Avery answered the door ... then shoved a cop and slammed the door behind him.

Police then knocked again, and we're told the New York Rangers star came to his senses and opened up. According to law enforcement ... Avery was extremely cooperative after that, but was still booked for battery on a peace officer.

He was taken to the Hollywood police station and is being held on $20,000 bail.

UPDATE: Avery was released at 8:10 AM and is scheduled to appear in court on September 2.

A former L.A. Kings hockey player-turned-assistant coach was arrested this morning in Washington D.C. for allegedly sexually abusing a 21-year-old woman -- his own daughter.

TMZ has learned 51-year-old Mark Hardy is in police custody after his daughter told cops that Mark "put his hand down [her] shorts and touched her genital area without her permission."

Hardy was arrested at the legendary Mayflower Hotel in D.C. -- where the alleged incident was said to have occurred early this morning. He's set to face a judge later today on the charge of misdemeanor sexual abuse.

Here's Heidi at Club Nokia Sunday night for an event for the L.A. Kings, the team she hosts a webcast for, before hopping into her car and getting arrested.

As we previously reported, Androl was later pulled over for driving way too slow on the freeway, where she then performed "poorly" on field sobriety tests and was taken in.

Fighting over money is common -- but does $0.20 even count as money?

Two dimes (or four nickels) was allegedly the cause of a fight between NHL star Patrick Kane and a cab driver in Buffalo, NY. According to the Buffalo News, Kane (along with his cousin) were arrested after they allegedly roughed up a cab driver who couldn't give them the required change.

According to a police report obtained by the paper, the Kane boys paid $15 for a $13.80 cab ride -- but became incensed when the cabbie had the dollar bill, but not the coinage, to make change. The cab driver told police he was punched in the face and head, grabbed by the throat and had his glasses broken during the incident.

Both men were charged with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, as well as fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors. WIVB-TV says Kane has pled not guilty.

The Dallas Stars say Sean Avery will not be rejoining the team after serving a six-game suspension, saying: "All parties said there is a clear understanding that a return to the Stars is not in the best interest of either the hockey club or Avery."

Avery was originally suspended for his "sloppy seconds" comment about his ex girlfriend, Elisha, that he made to the media during practice.

Hockey hothead Sean Avery is scrambling to make up for the foul comments he made about his ex girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert, by releasing this apology:

"I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary.

"I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate. It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past.

Avery, who was previously linked to Elisha Cuthbert and rumored to be the other man in JT's "What Comes Around Goes Around," has been seen squiring MK all over the Big Apple.

Legendary rap star and hockey enthusiast Snoop Doggy Dogg dipped into his 'stache stash last night, in an effort to stay under the radar at the Stanley Cup Finals in Anaheim. Somehow, despite the incredibly convincing disguise, he stood out from the crowd.

The Doggfather is in the OC for the Western Conference Quarterfinals, where the Anaheim Ducks clinched the first-round playoff series in a 4-1 victory in game five against the Minnesota Wild. Puckin' great!

Jack Nicholson at a Lakers game is a normal occurrence, but Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon at a NY Rangers game not so much. You may not know this, but apparently the A-list couple are die hard NHL hockey fans. The family has been frequently spotted at NY Rangers home and away games. Now that's a fan.

Tim and Susan aren't the only ones in the family who are big fans, apparently son Miles is also a hockey buff. Tim recently took 15-year-old Miles to an FHM/NHL party at Marquee in NY to mingle with his favorite players.