Player safety must always come first

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This article was published 28/12/2023 (993 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It could be an important step in improving player safety and eliminating violence in minor hockey. Instead, it will likely be condemned by many as an over-reaction by low-level officials that eliminates an age-old ritual that is a longstanding part of Canada’s national pastime.

Last week, the Canadian Press reported that Hockey Newfoundland, the organization responsible for minor hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador, has decided to ban team handshakes after games. It said that the visiting team will now skate by the home team’s bench before the game begins, and will offer a glove tap or handshake to wish their opponents a good game.

The report quoted Gonzo Bennett, chair of Hockey NL’s minor council executive committee, as saying that “We have had some issues with handshakes following games that have led to suspensions for players and coaches.”

The same report quoted former NHL player Darren Langdon, who now coaches a senior men’s team, as saying the post-game handshake is a key builder of sportsmanship, especially for younger players. He added that “You can compete and play hard against someone, but at the end of the day, it’s a game to have fun, and you shake their hand and go on about your business.”

A second CP report, published yesterday, contained quotes from several players and coaches currently participating in the World Junior Hockey Championship tournament in Sweden, each of them emphasizing the importance of the post-game handshake and the significance of its elimination.

Their passion for one of the game’s traditions is laudable, but they appear to be reacting to an inaccurate portrayal of the facts.

A Dec. 22 news release on the Hockey Newfoundland website reveals that the elimination of the post-game handshake in minor hockey games is just a “trial change” that will be tried out in the new year.

The release says that the game handshake will be moved from the end of the game to the beginning of the game. It adds: “This is new and it is different, but it is like what is seen in other sports and in other divisions of hockey.” Indeed, the release refers to the sport of soccer, in which many teams conduct their “handshake protocol and sportsmanship gesture” prior to the game.

While the release also says that the objective of the change “is to ensure that respect and sportsmanship is still involved between players and teams, with a view to reducing the risk for post-game altercations,” it also emphasizes that “To be clear, the handshake is not being eliminated — Minor Council has simply made the decision to move when it is to be conducted.”

Finally, the release says the trial change is motivated by “the goal of instilling the values of good sportsmanship, respect, and comradery (sic) while working toward our mission of safe, fun, and inclusive hockey experiences.”

It’s hard to argue with that. This is minor hockey after all. The players are children.

Beyond that, this is hardly the first time that concerns have been raised over the safety of post-game handshake lines. Earlier this year, for example, the University of Alberta Golden Bears men’s hockey team refused to shake hands with the host Prince Edward Island Panthers team after Alberta’s hard-fought 4-1 semifinal win at the University Cup championships. U of A head coach Ian Herbers explained his team’s refusal this way: “Safety of our players. Didn’t want something happening in the scrum.”

In 2016, Hockey Calgary banned post-game handshakes with game officials in order to protect the officials from abuse. A Calgary Sun report regarding that decision revealed that “officials with the Hockey Alberta Referee Council cited rampant bullying by coaches, team officials, parents and players as the reason young refs are quitting the game at a rate of 35 per cent per year in this province.”

Many will argue that the importance of hockey in Canada’s national fabric dictates that the game’s traditions, including the post-game handshake, be respected and preserved. They must also agree, however, that the safety of children and officials must always come first.

It is unfortunate that Hockey Newfoundland officials felt compelled to take the step of ending post-game handshakes, even temporarily, but they should be commended for having the courage to protect their young players.