Rough Play

I really don't get why some hockey teams feel the need to play rough. Actually, it's really just one team that we've found likes to play that way. We've run into it in 3 on 3 play, and then throughout the regular season and now spring league.

I do realize that hockey is a rough sport, BUT at the Mite level the boys are not suppose to be checking, slashing and certainly not cross checking or punching someone once they've gone in the net. Apparently, the PARMA team that we keep playing hasn't got the message. It's not all the boys, but it is certainly some of them. Our son has played for their head coach during an All Star game and has said how nice he is...so what's the deal?

Last night they tripped several times, ok we'll let a couple of those go. Then they were cross checking and pushing kids after the play was done. I'd say they were just frustrated over the score, but they do this regardless of the score. In all honesty maybe we should have cheered all 10 of our goals, but that is not the kind of team we are. We support our boys, encourage them to do the RIGHT thing and clapped for their goals...all of them, but not as loud as we did for the first 2. Why? Because it is the right thing to not make the other team feel bad about their not scoring any goals.

Here's the message you need to get though PARMA... First, your kids can skate, and they have good puck handling skills. We shut you down because you were too busy being goons to actually play. So maybe if you got your kids together and talked to them about waiting until they were in the peewees to hit and push and check you would actually be able to make a run at scoring some goals.

Good luck with that!