Calling Saturday’s dust-up among hockey parents at a local rink an embarrassing moment is an understatement.
When police get called to a teen hockey game over antics of adult spectators, you’re skating on thin ice in terms of acceptable behaviour.
Alarmingly — and likely not coincidentally — the shoving match broke out after an on-ice brawl erupted between young players.
This is not the game Stompin’ Tom sang about in “The Hockey Song.”
But you can’t assign all the blame to the kids when this is the behaviour their parents demonstrate.
Hockey certainly isn’t the only sport that’s been plagued with distinctly overzealous parents. What blew up on the weekend is a small but persistent part of sports culture, especially at the elite level. But these rink-side incidents are too frequent to write off.
It’s bad enough to see professional athlete role models exhibit unsportsmanlike behaviour. It’s worse to see the antics trickle down to kids and being reinforced by idiot parents.
According to an Angus Reid poll released last week, most Canadians who have attended youth hockey games report they have seen adult spectators verbally abuse both players and referees. That’s hardly a record to be proud of.
There is a sign being posted at sports facilities around the world reminding parents their child’s success or lack of success in sports doesn’t indicate what kind of parents they are.
What does, the sign notes, is raising an athlete who is coachable, respectful, a good teammate and someone who tries their best.
He shoots, he scores.
