Two Teenage Referees Viciously Assaulted by a Raging Parent During Youth Hockey Game
Photo credit: KOMO News
A parent has been arrested after assaulting two teenage referees during a youth hockey game in the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association on Sunday.
Youth hockey referees have a lot to worry about these days, especially with the way some parents will fly off the handle in the middle of a game.
Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association responds to assault on referees
Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened on Sunday during a U12 hockey game in Seattle.
As you can see below, a man got absolutely distraught over a call and walked onto the ice where he shoved one of the referees to the ice.
Other adults stepped in and eventually, the man involved was arrested, according to the sports outlet Outkick.
Following the situation, the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association put out a statement on the matter.
"The video we are sharing is difficult to watch, but it is crucial that we confront the seriousness of what happened. This incident serves as a stark reminder of why maintaining a safe and respectful environment in our sport is so essential," PNAHA President Jody Carpenter said in a statement.
"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.
"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.
The statement continued, noting that USA Hockey has never tolerated and will never tolerate these kinds of acts.
"USA Hockey's Zero Tolerance and Safe Sport Policies exist to protect everyone involved in the game-players, officials, coaches, volunteers, and spectators alike. There is absolutely no excuse for this type of conduct, and it will not be tolerated at any level or for any reason.
"With the cooperation and leadership of our local programs, our PNAHA senior leadership is actively investigating this incident, and we are working with the authorities and all appropriate parties to ensure that this matter is swiftly addressed with the seriousness and accountability it demands. The safety and well-being of our officials, players, and families is our top priority, and we remain committed to upholding the integrity of the game."
"With the cooperation and leadership of our local programs, our PNAHA senior leadership is actively investigating this incident, and we are working with the authorities and all appropriate parties to ensure that this matter is swiftly addressed with the seriousness and accountability it demands. The safety and well-being of our officials, players, and families is our top priority, and we remain committed to upholding the integrity of the game."
The statement ended with a message to parents, demanding respect for the officials.
"We ask all members of our hockey community to remember that respect for officials and sportsmanship are fundamental to our sport. If we fail to uphold these standards, we fail the game itself."
We hope the two teenage referees are okay and continue to pursue their passion.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 10 | 233 ANSWERS Two Teenage Referees Viciously Assaulted by a Raging Parent During Youth Hockey Game Should the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association ban the father for assaulting the referees? | ||
| YES | 228 | 97.9 % |
| NO | 5 | 2.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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