Trouble on the Ice

As I'm typing this, I am sitting at the hockey arena while the boys practice. 

I don't usually do this, but today it's raining so hard. I brought home made sandwiches, parked at the underground garage and came here without an umbrella.

So here I go, typing happily on my notebook, working on my upcoming post. 

Until I am not feeling happy anymore.

One kid got injured. 

I didn't pay attention, I don't know what happened, I just realized he remained lying next to the board, crying loudly. 

I wanted to cry, too. I'm always tearing up if someone won't get up, no matter if he's on our team or the opponent's.

Who was it? From his height and equipment I just knew it wasn't Colin. 

I wished I was medically trained and could actively do something to help. I texted the coach to tell him I would be happy to to drive the boy to the hospital if needed. 

After a couple of minutes, the team members (still training on the ice) were sent off. A little later they reappeared, changed into gym gear started doing laps around the audience part of the arena.

It didn't take long and Andy showed up. I was so glad and relieved to see him. Andy is a former coworker of mine, we go back over 20 years, and he is responsible for the fact that Colin is part of this organization today. Andy is the Head of Youth Development, and tonight he was at the arena because the teams had to attend the annual photo shooting. 

Photo shooting?

Yes, every player, down to the youngest, gets photographed every year. They use it as autograph cards. Who wants a kid's autograph? Their generous Skateathon sponsors will get one as a thank you note.

I told Andy one of the guys had to be escorted from the ice, and could he please go over there and see if anything needed to be done except of applying the ice pack that the coach quickly had on hand.

"That's what I'm here for. Who is it, do you know?"

All I could say was the boy was on the blue (as opposed to white) team and on the shorter side.

A  few other parents were there, too, and they all confirmed it wasn't their kid. Everyone had a story to tell about how their kid got injured at some time or other: fractured arm or fingers, lacerations, contusions all over, concussion.

Nobody, however, could say their kid had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.

That's what happened tonight. First there was one paramedic, then two more arrived, pushing a stretcher across the ice.

I felt sick to my stomach. This was more than just being hit somehow.

When the boys were finally done, Colin told me what happened. They did a skating / puck guidance exercise. I observed that much. Then L shot a puck at, well, past the goal. That's where unsuspecting R was doing his skating exercise. 

Why did L shoot? I thought it was a puck guidance exercise? Not shooting practice?

Because he'll never listen but will do as he pleases. 

We know this boy L since the beginning. He's very skilled and ambitious. His parents told us back then how glad they were that their son managed to get accepted to the team. 

"He has so much energy and also some aggression issues at school. He needs an outlet."

That was five years ago. In the last couple of months this boy  - now 14 - has made himself increasingly unpopular by pestering, shoving and tripping up his own team members. 

Colin in his role on the captain's team has been trying to mediate, and there have been meetings with the coach, part of the team and that boy. He will listen, apologize, and move on. Move on to the next harassment.

So what happened tonight? 

The puck that L shot, hit R on his head. 

Don't they wear a helmet?

They do, and it is even a cage. The puck, however, hit him near the little (and useless, as it turns out) plastic piece that is supposed to cover the ear. He had a gigantic bulge right behind his ear, covering parts of his mandible.

This is what I learned later that night from R's Mom whom I texted to tell her that L's Mom asked me for her phone number. I guess this poor lady did what she always does: apologize on her son's behalf. She is the nicest and sweetest person you can think of. I feel bad for her. 

R got released from the hospital the same night, felling OK considering the circumstances. 

A few days later we learned that L disappeared from the upcoming game's lineup. 

Finally an official reaction.

For a while, I felt like the time for "discussions" and "reminders" was over. 

The weekend before, M, another player was suspended from a game just minutes before it started. Apparently as they were warming up on the ice, he dropped a statement towards his teammates. It was something like "you all s***", and the coach overheard it. He sent him back to the locker room to change back into his uniform track suit. The boy was in disbelief but ended up doing so.

The things is, L and M are our best players when it comes to skating and scoring. They may feel superior, and that's OK, they have the stats to prove it. Yet, they are part of a team, and they must show a minimum of respect. At least that's what I think. 

Ideally they might learn to turn their superiority into a constructive leader role, making their teammates better in the process.

Colin and his  teammates don't believe in my scenario. 

"We have reached the point where we would rather lose the game than further deal with these individuals."

Well, it looks like we are this close for this to happen. Both troublemakers won't play this weekend.

A week after the puck incident, the coach talked to the team and said something along the line of "every player here who's had several warnings, is down to his very last chance. One more incident, and you're out." As in, leave the organization. 

On a positive note, R will be back on the ice, training with his friends!