In conversation over the weekend with some hockey scouts (both amateur and pro), parents of both Minor to Junior level players they feel that the game has changed in part due to the ever changing society in which we live.
According to several it all starts with the disrespect stemming from authorities to parents who feel that their youngster is the next pro athlete – sort of their “gravy-train” for them considering that they weren’t as talented.
In reality this alone is probably a true statement as we watch and listen to how parents shout obscenities during mostly hockey games with no one saying anything to them.
Why do we seldom here foul or vulgar language filled with profanity at a little league ball game, football game, tennis match or a pickle ball event?
For the most part it has to do with society with the justice system taking a nonchalant attitude toward this considering the way we hear some, but not all young persons fill their conversations with profanity at the local mall, coffee shop or even the school halls.
As a society we owe this to ourselves as we or no one wants to get involved with this form of abusive action.
I watch KTLA and continue to see street “takeovers” by upwards of over one hundred youth’s and if any are caught or apprehended they or their parents don’t hold anyone responsible.
Sad state of affairs and yet we continue to allow the abusive language and action to take place in our local rinks normally from an irate parent who thinks their son is an “Angel” but only in their own eyes.
Over the weekend I was sent an email that involved a so-called parent or as I like to call him a “Dumb Moronic Ass” who ventured on the ice and hit two young teenage hockey officials to the ice.
The video from a U12 rec league game in Kirkland, WA featuring the Seattle Sno-Kings went viral over the weekend for all the wrong reasons.
In the video, an enraged parent can be seen slowly walking on the ice towards a pair of young officials before physically assaulting both young men by shoving them down hard to the ice.
The two young officials look completely stunned at what had just transpired, understandably so, with one of the young men looking back and forth between his officiating partner and the enraged parent as if in total disbelief.
Just below you can see a short clip of the incident that was caught on camera:
The Sno-Kings have released a statement denouncing the actions of the enraged parent.
“We at Sno-King, along with our state association and all of its members, stand with our on-ice officials and off-ice volunteers. There is no room for behavior like this and it will not be tolerated,” said the team in a statement.
The two young men who were assaulted in this incident are reportedly only 13 and 14 years of age respectively, making the actions of this parent against the young officials all the more reprehensible. It is unclear at this time what consequences he will be facing for his actions.
Today, Seattle Police and Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey (PNAHA) announced that they are investigating the incident and that charges are pending.
“The video we are sharing is difficult to watch, but it is crucial that we confront the seriousness of what happened,” PNAHA said in a statement. “This incident serves as a stark reminder of why maintaining a safe and respectful environment in our sport is so essential. Hockey is a game of passion, but there is absolutely no place in our sport for the kind of egregious and outrageous behavior that occurred during a 12U Rec game here in Washington, where a parent went onto the ice and physically assaulted two young officials—a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old. In my over 40 years in hockey, I have never witnessed anything so completely unacceptable.”
According to police report, the suspect expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation and take responsibility for his actions.
As with our pansy- ass legal system he was released from the scene after providing his contact information to the officers and oh yeah – he promised to appear!!!
The Seattle Police Department has recommended that the case be referred to the Seattle Law Department for consideration of two counts of misdemeanor assault. The investigation remains ongoing!
We’ll keep you posted and hopefully he’s dealt with extremely harsh! What would you do if one of the young officials was your Son?
