December 10, 2021 by Mike Dirsa

Growing up in Northern Alberta, when the snow flew it was street hockey season and the celebration was on. I completely fell in love with the game of hockey and that feeling of being totally free on the ice. There wasn’t a care in the world when I was skating around on the ice. I was at peace.

As I got older, I thought everyone had the same feeling. My love for the game and wonderment sheltered me from seeing that not everyone’s experience with the game of hockey was the same as mine. As an adult I am seeing there are things that need to change from entry level minor hockey all the way to the NHL. I fear that if significant changes aren’t made to the way hockey is run kids won’t be able to share that same sense of freedom and wonderment that I did.

Chicago Blackhawks want Kyle Beach’s case dismissed

Last month, I wrote an article on the Kyle Beach situation, and according to Rick Westhead, the Chicago Blackhawks have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on December 2. The reason for this is that they the Blackhawks have “committed to pursue a reasonable resolution of the issues raised by Mr. Beach as a moral imperative rather than a legal obligation.”

To me, the Blackhawks are sending the wrong message with this attempt to dismiss Beach’s case. They aren’t looking to make amends with him, they are only looking to save themselves hardship from a monetary standpoint. I think this will backfire in the court of public opinion and hurt their already damaged brand. I also think trying to save themselves some money in a settlement with Beach will pay dearly financially for years to come by not taking complete ownership of their past failures and continuing to fail him in the present.

This situation is a mess not only for the Blackhawks but also the NHL and the game of hockey but it’s not the only thing that is putting a stain on the game.

16-year-old black goalie experiences racist taunts

On November 18 of this year, a 16-year-old black goaltender from Halifax named Mark Connors was playing in a tournament and had racial slurs hurled at him from some of the youth in the crowd. What makes this story even harder to stomach is that the situation wasn’t confined to the rink.

Mark faced more verbal abuse back at his team’s hotel. So, a 16-year-old kid is supposed to try to play goal while fighting through racism. When I think about this the realization sets in that I was very fortunate that I didn’t have to play through any of this bullshit. I also realize that there are big problems surrounding the game and culture of hockey.

These problems can’t and shouldn’t be ignored any longer. Steps need to be taken to change the game. I question where the parents were when their children were calling Mark the n word. I also question whether they were taught to say that by their parents. I think a solution to this is to start baring people from arenas for their language and behavior. No kid should have to hear racial or homophobic slurs of any kind when playing hockey.

There’s no place for that in the game or anywhere else. Mark Connors hockey experience should be that same escape from the troubles of regular life that mine was.

Time for a change

There needs to be a fundamental shift in the way people conduct themselves at the rink. We have all witnessed parents laying into officials, coaches, and other players. We have all witnessed parents that think their kid has never taken a penalty and we have all witnessed the parents who think their kid is going to the show in Atom. It can be difficult to not live vicariously through our children in hopes that they can make it, but we end up putting too much pressure on them. Often, we can drive our own kids away from the game because it stops being enjoyable for them. This is compounded when there are abuses involved.

Hockey needs some repair work done to make it truly for everyone. It’s a great game and can be an amazing release for the stresses we all go through. I know for me when I step on that ice, I am in a Zen state of mind. All my cares and troubles subside. That same feeling, I have needs to be the same feeling every kid feels.

When we get to that point the game will be in great shape but right now it isn’t there. Mark Connors and Kyle Beach have been stripped of that Zen state feeling that hockey gives me. Knowing they are far from the only ones who have been violated by the game saddens me deeply. I love the game and want that absolute joy I feel when I’m out there to be shared by everyone. I think people can have an influence on what happens to hockey going forward. We can make it truly for everyone.

Teaching our children appropriate behavior at the rink is a good place to start and a lot of times that can be done through our own actions. Let’s work as individuals to try our best to make the game a positive experience for all the youngsters we see at the rink including our own kids.

Let’s work to make it fun again for everyone. Sticks in the middle. Game On!