Dear editor,
After reading the article titled: 'Grand Falls - Windsor Minor Hockey takes a stand against dressing room activity resulting in concussions’ I felt it was necessary to weigh in on the issue.
For several years I've been no stranger when it comes to protecting young hockey players in Canada, whether it be a player within Hockey Canada/HNL or, a player within the CHL. It comes as no surprise today that I am once again addressing questionable activities within hockey organizations.
One question that comes to mind concerning these serious circumstances is — where are the coaches/guardians when these acts take place in dressing rooms?
Time-and-time-again we hear about these outrageous acts being committed by hockey players, yet time-and-time-again we hear that the coach and/or the league is unaware of any of the foolish acts being committed.
Here we are today reading about young children wearing helmets and gloves in hockey dressing rooms and smashing each other in the head as hard as they can, however, not one single coach heard one single gauntlet hit one single helmet in one single dressing room ever. Does this make any sense to anybody?
We recently heard the horror stories within the OHL/CHL by former NHL/OHL hockey player Dan Carcillo, where his former OHL coach was involved in the sexual abuse being doled out to rookies, (hockey reporters and coaches downplay the gruesome acts by calling it “hazing”) yet the media barely dug their heels into the story to demand answers from league president/commissioner and/or coaches.
Here we are today reading about young children wearing helmets and gloves in hockey dressing rooms and smashing each other in the head as hard as they can, however, not one single coach heard one single gauntlet hit one single helmet in one single dressing room ever. Does this make any sense to anybody?
Hockey organizations continue to navigate through troubled waters by using their media partners to present favourable narratives for them when times get tough. This story is no different.
Glenn Gumbley
CHLPA founder
