The images of a spectator from Trois-Rivières, in Mauricie, who climbs the boards of the ice rink to hit a referee during a hockey game quickly became viral and the actions of the woman in question are denounced by officials. .
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“These are things that are deplorable, inappropriate, and not tolerated in hockey,” said Hockey Quebec director of management, officials and school hockey, Dave Leclerc.
The spectator of last Friday’s game at the Claude-Mongrain arena probably wanted to challenge the referee, first by knocking on the window, because the dial of the scoreboard was stopped despite the resumption of play.
“I don’t think the lady had bad intentions, except that in the end it’s not the best solution. It doesn’t look good, and especially going to hit the referee’s helmet. We do not approve of that,” assured the president of Hockey Mauricie, René Leclair.
Across the population, the discourse is unanimous.
The action of the spectator was inappropriate and exceeded the limits.
As for the referee in question in the video, the chief referee of the Mauricie officials, Louis-Simon Pruneau, reported that he had acted in the right way by staying focused on the game. are even proud of it because not everyone would react the same way in that situation.”
Hockey Mauricie replied that it was an isolated case, but the tension and impatience seem to be rising among some parents.
There was even a battle between spectators at the Claude-Mongrain arena last Thursday, the day before the incident.
“It seems to me that it was less bad before, I am not saying that there was none. These are isolated cases, but it seems that the isolated are a little bigger, are getting bigger, ”said Mr. Leclair, who believes that the whole of society has been more on edge lately.
And in the midst of a labor shortage, this kind of action can have repercussions on recruitment.
For example, 80% of the referees at the tournament that took place in Trois-Rivières during the weekend were under 17 years old.
“Images like that, or others that we have seen in any sport lately, do not encourage young people to want to try it,” said Mr. Leclerc.
Former referee Stéphane Auger also pointed out that a third of officials leave their posts each year. And that “if the parents do not control themselves, […] sport is in jeopardy.”
Officials are now sending a message to parents to just let the kids play hockey.