Increasing respect and safety in hockey is a hot topic in the report of the Quebec Committee on Hockey Development, which was tabled a year ago. But again this year, disgraceful incidents that occurred both on the ice and in the stands disrupted the progress of the games.
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These acts are not new. We can go back to Methuselah!
We have the impression that it is encrusted forever in the mores and that hockey will never get out of this problem.
“I don’t agree,” objects Isabelle Charest.
“When people start to denounce these behaviors, it’s a sign that mentalities are changing,” said the minister. These scenes are filmed. You don’t see that in the parts where it’s going well.
“You have to be careful about how you assess the situation. Of course there is work to be done. It remains to change mentalities on what hockey can be.
Education and formation
Of course, we should not put everyone in the same boat. But the problem remains glaring.
A few weeks ago, we learned that Hockey Quebec is considering the possibility of establishing a code of conduct for parents in arenas. When we have reached this point, it means that the problem goes beyond the limits.
“I issued a ministerial statement in 2020 asking each sports federation to adopt an integrity policy,” said Ms.me Charest.
“It concerned cases of abuse, harassment and intimidation. It was up to the federations to apply this code as they wished. But if behaviors are expected to change overnight, that’s a shot in the arm.”
“Jocelyn Thibault has clearly explained the difficulties that this can cause. If we target a parent who behaves badly, will that punish the child?
Mme Charest thinks the solution lies in education and training.
It’s up to the NHL to lead by example
It’s like fights between players.
The decision of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to ban them from next season does not suit everyone. Some believe that the Quebec circuit will find itself at a disadvantage in the National League draft against the OHL and the Western League.
Diehards say that the measures adopted in recent years to counter violence only devirilize hockey.
These words ignite Mme Charest.
“I emphasize that in Europe and in the NCAA [hockey universitaire américain]there are no fights”, she retorts.
“The only sport that regulates fighting is hockey. In rugby, football or lacrosse, which are fairly tough sports, there are no battles. In fact, I think that’s the case in all sports except hockey.”
Eliminate prehistoric visions
For the Minister, the example must come from above, that is to say from the NHL.
“The fights have been decreasing for a few years”, recognizes Mme Charest.
“Ultimately, I hope that the National League will take a serious look at this issue ultimately.”
“We have to see how we can protect our young people. Recently, I read that a player had been suspended for five games for racist remarks. However, a player who punches an opponent in the face only receives 15 minutes of punishment.
“That doesn’t make sense! At some point, the penalties have to be substantial.”
In his eyes, it is not surprising that young people give up hockey as teenagers.
“They are disgusted, the parents too,” she said.
“We have to stop having this prehistoric view of fights. The sport must evolve. With everything we know about concussions, bullying, harassment, we have to clean up.”
“I saw hockey games at the Olympics and the show was fantastic!”
No, it does not really change, according to the speakers on the ground
Minister Isabelle Charest does not agree when our colleague Marc de Foy points out that mentalities do not seem to be changing in Quebec arenas.
When we check how it is going on the ground, we realize that it is still indeed difficult and that the unsightly events filmed and broadcast on social networks are only the tip of the iceberg.
“There has been no improvement at all. I’ve been doing this for 24 years and as a parent, it’s the worst year I’ve had,” said Éric Black, who is chief referee for the Montreal region.
“No matter the level from atom to junior, things are happening. We had referees who received death threats and even referees who were waited in the corridor by parents in the M13 C.
There was already a code
A few weeks ago, Hockey Quebec raised the possibility of introducing a code of conduct that would require parents to take training so that their child can play.
There has already been a similar measure in the past and Éric Black wonders why it was withdrawn.
“It has already existed in the past, where we could give a minor penalty for parents who shouted, I do not know why it was removed. After three or four such penalties in a game, it calms the heat.
Mr. Black believes that each hockey association should have a responsible person who ensures the good behavior of the parents.
Skeptical
Marc Denis chaired the Committee on the Development of Quebec Hockey, which produced a detailed report a year ago. He seems a bit surprised to see Minister Charest’s optimism.
“At first glance, I’m very happy if the minister says things are progressing well, but I haven’t seen anything. I can’t wait to see what has been done and how high.”
According to the former NHL goaltender, it’s about time everyone got together around a table to get things moving and to prevent the report from starting to feel too comfortable on a tablet.
“I would like us to sit around the same table, for there to be a return, I would like the importance we gave to it to be the same today.”
Marc Denis also judges that the various hockey associations can do their part to move things forward.
“There seems to be a lack of leadership in hockey, there are recommendations that can be put into action with the snap of your fingers. It takes associations that move forward rather than protecting their castle. I have not heard many gestures of courage such as the withdrawal of statistics or even reducing the competition component.
Not just the NHL
Mme Charest confided to Marc de Foy that the NHL should lead by example with regard to behavior on the ice, but Marc Denis believes that this is on the wrong track.
MARCEL TREMBLAY/QMI Agency
“It doesn’t have to be a one-way street, we don’t even have to think about the pyramid,” he says, adding that we could take advantage of the sports-study program schedule that multiply.
“We have a school year that goes beyond the sports year, so we could take the opportunity to teach young people about the role of the referee.”
Eric Black believes for his part that it is a mistake to put all the responsibility on the shoulders of the NHL.
“You really can’t compare the National League to minor hockey. You have to start with the basics by showing the young people and the referees how to behave.