More adult league shenanigans

[Chadd 916]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Hockey-Match-Turns-Violent-164531376.html

Caller: "The hockey game was going on and someone caught a stick to the face. Lacerated probably from the ear to the eyeball-cheek area."

Caller: "Oh, no, he intentionally hunted the guy down. And with two hands, hit with a stick from behind..."

[hunt3rsean 44]

Wow. I've seen some decent fights in my league and one or two running someone down, but nothing like this. I'm curious as to the happenings that lead up to this. Not saying anything justifies (allegedly) two hand swinging a stick into someones face, but could the refs have cirumvented this buy taking care of the issue earlier?

[hockeymass 11]

Amazing how competitive sports bring out the best in some people and the worst in others.

[raganblink 82]

Anyone else notice the ref totally wipe out at the beginning of that?

This stuff happens at all levels, none of us were there witnessing it so its hard to have an opinion if this could have been prevented. Its just sad this is the kind of stuff that makes news and gives hockey publicity, rather then something good.

[memphishockey06 0]

I actually logged on to post about this incident.

But...

"This stuff happens at all levels"

No it really doesn't; I'm not going to sit here and trash talk about anyone but I've found that the lower the league the more serious the guys take it. I play in an upper B and C league in the same area - actually against some of the same teams - as the guy who got two handed and I can honestly say I've been waiting for something like this to happen since I've moved here.

I'm not getting into skill levels here - it's more the mindset at specific skill levels - and not trying to bash anyone for coming out and learning the game, but I'm about to get on a bit of a rant so bear with me.

One of the things that makes hockey so unique are the things you learn as you grow up surrounded in the game. The USA Hockey rule book is not the only set of rules we play by, and most of those rules you have to learn the hard way either through playing or seeing it. When we're kids the damage isn't as bad because we (A) aren't as strong and (B) are wearing full gear as mandated. So when a kid gets a quick nick in the jaw by a high stick or shot off the cheek, hell even punches - it generally doesn't do any damage, but will remind them that it's not something they want to deal with regularly. This is how kids learn habits to keep their sticks down, look where their teammates are, and to keep their head up or get smoked and start counting rafters. As you get into the more competitive levels you start to learn the tricks, things you might get away with once, ways to battle with a guy, and ways to send an entire team after you. The tricks that may "hurt" someone but not "injure" someone, AND how to handle it when people do it back. - You learn how to play the REAL game.

I've seen plenty of guys who have only been skating a handful of years pick up the game relatively quickly and by all means that's great, but please know your limits. We've all got that one head case on our team, but I see more injuries in low and mid-level leagues than I ever do in higher ones. It comes down to discipline, and knowing what may be "legal" is a great way to get somebody seriously hurt if you don't know what you're doing. You don't need to try to make a diving play, swinging your stick across your body at some guy's ankles because you see the NHL'ers do it. Personally I will almost never take a slapshot unless I'm 1-0 with the goalie or if the D is well out of the way, hell I won't shoot high unless I've got a clear line of sight. I'm also not going to step into a guy's lane if he's coming out of the zone at full speed. So many times I've played against guys who don't understand lanes, and will just bury their head and skate. Would it be legal for me to hold my ground and let him skate right into me? Sure, but guys like that have no clue how to protect themselves in that situation and there's a great chance they can hurt themselves more than me.

Second, realize that no matter how quickly you may have picked up the game or how long you've played, YOU STILL SUCK At HOCKEY. We are ALL playing beer league, which means none of us are going anywhere with this sport. Use it as a release from your stress, getting a chance to hang out with your buddies, and enjoy this game. I'm one of the most competitive people that I know and I'm all about working hard and it's still hockey; it's a no CHECK league, not a no CONTACT league - but do it the right way. We've all got to go to work in the morning and trust me there will never be some minor league scouts in the bar upstairs who's eye you happen to catch. No matter what amount of chirping or dirty play these guys did will justify someone taking to that extreme. Look at a baseball bat, now make it easier to swing and twice as long, and realize how badly you can hurt someone when you're not paying attention how to use it correctly. Imagine if he missed the guy's head and hit him in the side of the neck or at the base of his jaw......

So CHILL THE FUCK OUT AND PLAY THE GAME THE RIGHT WAY.

Sorry to vent, but I've spent the last 4 years in an area of the country where hockey seriously struggles, and crap like this makes it very easy for people or businesses to quit supporting a sport that we all care very much about.

[forbs02 20]

The friend posted about this on HFboards in the Rink section. He posted a pic of the guy's face.

Here is the link if you would like to read about it: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1238979

[215BroadStBullies610 435]

Some people forget that at this point in our lives, you play the game because you enjoy ice hockey. Nothing wrong with being competitive. I am as competitive as they come. But to do that to a fellow player is unfathomable. We all have jobs, kids, wives, family, etc. outside of this game. The guy is around my age so this isn't a mindset just for 'older' people. I hope the victim recoups quickly and is able to get back on the ice.

[wetwilly17 6]

wow, how unfortunate. i haven't played at that crappy rink in at least 6-7 years. at the time, they consistently used teenage refs (and many times only one ref). i saw many games get out of hand due to a combination of idiots on the ice and refs that couldn't control the game properly.

[Jim A 4]

Was this the Christian league that plays out of Polar Ice? That was the most slash and hack league I've ever been in by far....

[Stewie 721]

unfortunately a lot of beer league players take things way to seriously. I have seen teammates get in near fisticuffs after a loss, a guy rip a slap shot at my goalies head after he was capped out on goals per league rules, and another guy being taken off the ice for fighting and telling his teammates "thats ok I cant play the next two weeks anyways". A lot of guys never played youth hockey and learned how to play right, and still more people just dont care or are too competitive for a D league. Another big problem i have seen, is that there really is no such thing as a D league anymore, they just take money from whoever they can get it from in most leagues, hell one team in a recent season i played in had an average margin of victory of like 10 goals, how the hell is that a D team???? things get a lot chippier in a blow out.

Luckily for me, I learned early about sportsmanship. one of my first games, when i was 8, a kid kept slashing me in the back of the legs up and down the ice, and the refs werent calling it, so after the whistle i clocked him when he was heading back to his bench. The refs didnt see the punch, and i went back to the bench. The kid laid on the ice for a few minutes, and i thought i got away with a fast one. My coach took me into the locker room after, and told me that was completely stupid, and made me sit out the rest of that game, and the whole next game. I apologized and accepted the discipline, and from there decided cheap shotting a guy was not an answer (but fighting was acceptable, this was the 90s afterall)

Seriously though, in my D league games, im probably more about sportsmanship than ever before. If my team loses by a lot, oh well, as long as everyones trying it doesnt matter to me. I am still competitive, dont get me wrong, but nothing to me is worth intentionally hurting someone. i went an entire two seasons without a penalty (then broke that streak with 3 in one game, but i swear they were weak calls 2 out of the 3). my only rule is, dont head hunt me, and you will be safe.

[IniNew 53]

This was no joke. This happened at one of the rinks I play at. All sorts of posts throughout the facebook groups about it.

[shooter27 116]

This stuff happens at all levels,

Sorry, swinging a stick like a baseball bat doesn't/shouldn't happen at any level. Do cheap shots and chippy play happen at all levels? Sure, but this is well beyond either of those. Wasnt Jessie Boulerice thrown out of the OHL for something similar about 10-12 years ago? Hope the guy gets better.

[pizzakid13 5]

thats one of the reasons i left mens league for open hockey.

plus, its usually the lesser players that are over-intense and totally annoying to play with.

[WSjo22 1]

I narrowly avoided a similar incident a few weeks ago.... Couple cheap shots from the other team in 4-0 game lead to some words from guys on my team, none from me. Few minutes left in the game and I'm bringing the puck out of my end put a get around 2 guys and catch a guy coming at me full speed ready to McSorely me out of the corner of my eye. Had just enough time to peal out to the right, get up off the ice to see the guy standing over his teammate who was backchecking me that took the baseball swing across the chest.

I'm all for competitive play and don't mind taking a slash here or there but never would I ever resort to using my stick as a weapon like that no matter what someone has done to me

[shooter27 116]

I just don't understand how people get so worked up that they're taking baseball swings at other guys. I'm as competitive as they come, but come on. You don't see guys taking baseball swings in the pros and there are millions of dollars, Stanley cups, and all kinds of higher stakes at that level. How can you justify doing something like that in beer league when there are no stakes. It also seems to me that this stuff happens at lower levels because people playing at those levels generally didn't play enough organized hockey growing up to learn the code of respect for opponents. The closest thing I've ever seen to something like this was in juniors, I was wearing a half shield and a guy that was wearing a cage turned and deliberately shot the puck at my face from about 30-35 feet away. I saw him doing it and got out of the way but I lost my mind when I realized what he did. I tried to chase him around the ice to get him to drop the gloves but the ref saw it and grabbed me before I got very far. The guy got a match penalty.

[Fasckira 0]

Not sure if this is common across the board but the players that Ive seen at rec level who are prone to violent outbursts tend to be pretty rubbish at ice hockey. To me it essentially seems like because they lack the skill to play competitively they lash out violently to try and over compensate, its not a pretty sight.

Hope this bloke is ok though, the photo of his face looks pretty nasty but looks like it was just taken on the night so hopefully its not as bad now after they've cleaned him up.

[raganblink 82]

I've seen enough cheap shit over the years that I would say physical unnecessary cheap plays happen everywhere.

I would say that there is a much higher frequency at lower level hockey, because the players in these leagues most likely didn't play as kids and don't know the unwritten rules of hockey. Saying that though, here is a sample of BS I've seen in the last 6 months in mens league. Just the more notable examples, I'm sure there has been much worse stuff I've forgot about.

D league: (I've reffed or watched 6 or 7 games)

Guy slashed someone like a golf club at feet from the back

Guy shot the puck at opposing player, or atleast tried to after he just gave up a goal.

Elbow to the head (2X)

Punches thrown with gloves on

Cross check to someone wearing a cage

C League (I've reffed about 20, played in 3 or 4)

Guy clotheslined opposing player

Multiple fights (3 or 4)

Intent to injure by checking from behind into boards

Intent to injure from high check into boards

Baseball swing to ribs (Twice)

Baseball swing to bottom of someones feet

C+ League (I've reffed about 5, played in 15)

Intent to injure into boards

Intent to injure into net

Abuse of officials (punching official)

Punching opponent from the bench while they are on ice (with gloves on)

2 straight up brawls

Intent to injure referee by shooting puck at him

Tons of elbows to head

Crosschecks

Etc

B League (played 5, watched 4 or 5)

Fights (2)

Intent to injure (any form) (3 times)

Swinging stick at opponent from behind while they are on breakaway at shins

Elbows to head (2)

Throwing opponents stick out of the surface because they were pissed at them (twice) [it was pretty fun each time]

A League (watched a couple)

Fight

That was it. Earlier in the year someone took off their skate and tried to kill someone, but they got stopped.

This league does have a couple fights a month though

Point I'm getting at, stuff happens at all levels. I would agree that lower-end players are much more likely to do this kind of thing. But at all levels its usually the worse player on the ice that is doing this as well. There is a guy in B league who is flat out horrible, should be in D league to be honest, and he is the worst cheap shot person who plays. He constantly ices the goalie, will cross check you constantly, just is a total dick. Does this happen at all levels? Yes. Does it happen much more frequently at those lower levels? Yes.

[Chadd 916]

At our rink, the worst stuff is usually in the middle levels. None of the guys with lifetime or indefinite suspensions are from the bottom divisions and only one or two were from the top.

[hunt3rsean 44]

At my rink the more chippy stuff definitely happens more consistantly in the lower leagues. A few guys on my team play in the lower leagues, but in a position they are weak at. Example: Winger playing on Defense. I constantly get examples of guys taking cheap shots or hacking & wacking consistantly. At our rink at least it's an issue of lack of skill/experience in the lower divisions. Hockey isn't huge here so a lot of guys who play in the lower leagues did not come up through any real hockey system as a child. Some did, but not many.

That said. . .cheap shots and bad antics still happen at the upper levels. But the volume of these instances are definitely lower.

[pizzakid13 5]

all mens league games?

[hunt3rsean 44]

all mens league games?

In my example yes. All Adult/Beer League games.

[vince57 4]

A somewhat amusing anecdote from uk ice hockey involved an ENL1 game (which is the third league from the top of uk hockey)

Player receives a 2 min penalty for some minor offence and receives some heckling and banter from the home fans.

Player responds with a few choice words and in response receives a babies dummy thrown at him (i.e. spitting out his dummy)

Player allowed back in to the game, a few mins later he is taking a face off as the heckling fan walks to the cafe past the glass where the face off is occurring, Not sure of the gestures or exchange between the player/fan through the glass but the result got everyones attention.

Player : "Ref - your a f****** W*****

Ref : "Misconduct - off the Ice"

Player : "Thanks Ref!"

Player leaves the ice, at the non enclosed penalty bench then proceeds to chase the fan from the building with his stick.

Not sure if the fan ever came back but im sure he learnt not to torment the animals through the glass

[akravetz 29]

Here in Peoria, we have A, B and C which is the lowest level. What I have found is the issues tend to come up in C league (my league) in that you have three types of people. Meatheads who are just looking for a fight or who don't seem to get that we are playing C League; the SuperStars or B Leaguers who drop down to light up a C League goalie or who wish to show up to a bunch of guys who aren't that good and then rest of us who just try to get along. I am sure every sport has it but we had a chippy game last night where a guy took a run at our goalie in a blow-out game. What's so crazy about it is that those two guys (player and goalie) are friends off ice. A guy above posted that people need to chill out. He's right but well, a bunch of guys, testosterone and and suits of armor with sticks can be a bad mixture at times.

Andy in Peoria

[Chadd 916]

A guy above posted that people need to chill out. He's right but well, a bunch of guys, testosterone and and suits of armor with sticks can be a bad mixture at times.

A lot of guys use hockey as a way to blow off everything that has been bothering them that day or week without any consequences. They think it's ok to act like complete douchebags and then pretend it never happened when they walk off the ice. Like Vegas, whatever they do doesn't follow them home. Unfortunately, a lot of people still think that way and cut slack for other guys that act that way.

[Law Goalie 147]

Sorry, swinging a stick like a baseball bat doesn't/shouldn't happen at any level. Do cheap shots and chippy play happen at all levels? Sure, but this is well beyond either of those. Wasnt Jessie Boulerice thrown out of the OHL for something similar about 10-12 years ago? Hope the guy gets better.

McSorley? Tiger Williams?

It happens at all levels-- it just happens less at higher levels.