Saint John hockey coach suspended for bad behaviour

A Saint John hockey coach has been suspended for nine games for his aggressive behaviour at a peewee hockey game last week.

A 13-year-old referee in Quispamsis kicked out an adult coach from the Saint John Ice Cats, a player and a hockey mom for abusive behaviour against him last Friday.

The game involved house league players who are 11 and 12 years old.

Police were called to the Qplex arena in case anyone tried to confront the young official outside.

Hockey Canada has a zero-tolerance policy regarding verbal abuse of on-ice officials, which was implemented in Saint John last August.

Minor hockey's current policy allows referees to stop the game if a spectator becomes verbally abusive. The official can also eject a coach or player for the same reason. 

Todd Pye, chairman of Hockey New Brunswick's Minor Hockey Council, said his group encourages local groups to promote parent orientation programs on proper conduct at the rink.

"You have to remember we have five basic principles: respecting the rules, respecting opponents, respecting officials and decisions they make, making sure all the kids participate fairly. The last point that needs to be driven home is you need to maintain self control at all times," Pye said Wednesday.

Hockey New Brunswick is working on a pilot program that would be even tougher on those who cross the line, he said.

"What it starts with [is] if someone reports an incident, we send the person in question a letter to say there was a complaint made and if it happens we want them to know, and speak to it," Pye said.

"If something happens, it gets ramped up, more consequences as it goes along, up to the removal from all minor hockey events."

More incidents made public

Pye said the public is hearing about more incidents at the hockey rink this year because they are no longer tolerated.

For example, two weekends ago a midget recreational team coach was allegedly involved in an altercation with a parent at Fredericton's Willie O'Ree Place.

That coach has been suspended for the rest of the season and city police are investigating. There were also sanctions against the parent and players.

 Pye said the vast majority of games go smoothly, but sometimes parents and fans let their emotions get the better of them.

"You can sit in the stands and say to your friend, ‘Oh, that was a terrible call.' But you're crossing the line when you're starting to yell it out at someone down at the ice level," he said.

Chip Hunter, of Florenceville, who has been a hockey referee for 20 years, said coaches share part of the blame when games go sour.

"You're playing a team that's stronger than you, all of a sudden you're hearing from the bench, ‘Take the body, hit that guy,’" Hunter said.

"When you're getting a whole series of them in one shift, that's when things start to get out of control."

 Hunter said if checking was not allowed in minor hockey, there would be more focus on skill development.

According to Hockey Canada, there has been an increasing number of verbal and physical assaults against on-ice officials, which is leading to a decrease in the number of people wishing to become referees.