The West Kootenay’s BC Hockey Officiating Coordinator doesn’t see the need for penalties implemented locally to deal with spectactors with “rink rage”.
David Flanagan is speaking after the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey association announced they will make parents sign a code of conduct and continue to suspend spectactors from arenas for abusing on-ice referees and players.
Local RCMP were involved in multiple incidents involving spectators at Junior B games in our area this year.
A national survey released this month showed 59% of people who attended a youth hockey game in the past two years saw a referee being abused by parents and 49% witnessed similar behaviour aimed at players.