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Hazing in Hockey is still Alive |
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For those of you who are captivated by the early season headlines of the NHL season such as the resurgent Leafs, the 17 goal game, Phil Kessel, Roberto Luongo meltdowns and more there is something else you should remember hockey still has dirty secrets at any level. These are not headlines and stories people want to hear but they are the ones the hockey loving public needs to here.
Early this season in the MJHL (Manitoba Junior Hockey League) there was a hazing incident involving one of the team, the Neepawa Natives and a 15 year old rookie. This was no ordinary event of some initiation activity in a public area for many to laugh at. It was a discreet and direct effort to enact the ‘secret society’ and ‘unwritten code’ of team hierarchy.
In this case a 15 year old rookie was made to do something so utterly shameful in front of his teamates and one assistant coach. It was away from all to see and it was under duress and peer pressure and of course fear. In the locker room the rookie player was made to tie a water bottle rack, the kind which holds six bottles, to his scrotum and parade around the room for his teammates and one coach to laugh at.
The player was humiliated from the assault if not traumatized but not so much that he could not speak out. Remember those words ‘speak out’. He came forward to tell his story and that was when the real madness was about to begin for him, the team and the MJHL. He was advised to leave the team- why? Why should he of all people have to leave? What was so threatening from this 15 year- old rookie who had already been bullied into sexual harassment?
At that point the league had intervened but the damage was still continuing. The team officials had come toward the victim and asked him to apologize to the team for going public and not addressing the ‘problem’ internally. Yes, in manners of one versus many where the many are to face consequences the easiest path out is to lash out at the victim again. That is worse than the original act.
So what has become of the player and the team? He has not played since coming forward and missed 7 games. Suspensions have been handed out on a ‘rotating’ basis so the team can continue to fulfill it’s game obligations. The team captain received five games alone in the stiffest sentence. The aftermath continues as 16 players have also been moved from the team either by trade or release.
What is worse is that after the initial investigation it was revealed that some of the players lied and now a dedicated investigator has been assigned by the MJHL to review the entire event. The lie revealed, was that there were no coaches witness to or having knowledge of the event. Clearly this was not the case and one has to wonder just what ails the leadership and direction of this team that a coach, albeit a young one, would even dream of participating in such an act.
Respect in Sport is a mandatory course any person who wants to be involved in hockey at any level must take in Manitoba. It was the one essential thing to all other coaching credentials. While the course is full of obvious material and makes one’s eyes glaze over it does not hit home far deep enough to break this ‘code’ which still exists in some segments of junior hockey. What more can be done to prevent such heinous acts of abuse and disrespect? At what point does the ‘code’ finally become broken and no longer passed on from generation to generation within hockey? While this investigation will look to justice and process it should not stop there. Understanding how this kind of action still permeates hockey is just as important as delivering justice and there should be no other fifteen year old hockey players who ever have to experience it.
For an excellent read on this story read Randy Turner's article at www.winnipegfreepress.com
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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