FARGO, N.D. – A minor hockey official in North Dakota says police had to be called after a game between two Winnipeg teams led to a brawl between a parent and some coaches.
The fight happened between parents at a game between seven- and eight-year-old River East Royals and Selkirk Steelers players at a tournament last weekend.
Mike Prochnow of the West Fargo Hockey Association said the mother of one young player screamed about a call, then followed the opposing team’s coaches into a locker room.
When the woman refused to leave, one of the Selkirk coaches pushed her shoulder, so her husband jumped in with a punch, he told Fargo radio station KFGO.
Some coaches also sent their fists flying and the husband ended up with a black eye and bloody lip.
The fight happened in front of several of the young players, Prochnow said.
No charges were laid but the River East team was kicked out of the tournament.
Hockey Winnipeg is expected to address the issue at a news conference Wednesday morning. Global News will live stream the news conference at globalnews.ca/winnipeg.
The organization is expected to announce it will require one parent or guardian of each child participating in Hockey Winnipeg programs to take the online Respect in Sport program. The parent program encourages positive sport behaviours and provides insight into the roles of coaches and officials, Respect in Sport’s website says, and creates a standard for respectful behaviour.
Other hockey leagues across Canada, including the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, have already made the program mandatory for parents.
— With files from Global News, CJOB
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