A video posted on Facebook that shows a teenaged player slashing another on the ice has prompted Hockey Quebec to take action.
A parent posted it after a game last Sunday and it went viral with over 75,000 views. Now the amateur hockey governing body is calling for the video to be taken down.
Some say Hockey Quebec is enforcing the rule to protect its image, but others say posting such incidents on social media can cause even more damage than cuts and bruises.
It was when the video went viral that Hockey Quebec found out about it.
“We thought it was terrible that's for sure. We don’t abide by this type of behavior,” said Yvan Dallaire, a director with the organization.
Hockey Quebec says it demanded the video be taken down by the parent who posted it because it violates their code of ethics on using social media to denigrate another member or player. The code of ethics applies to parents, coaches and players, Dallaire said.
The 13-year-old who was slashed didn't suffer any major injuries. The teen that went after him will be disciplined, Dallaire said. But the latter player is also being punished outside the arena – kids at school were harrassing him about it.
At the Doug Harvey Arena in NDG, many parents agreed with Hockey Quebec's code.
“Putting little bits of videos out of context is doing more harm than good,” said one parent.
The father of the boy who committed the slash says he doesn’t condone his son's behaviour and agrees he should be punished.
“We deeply regret what happened to the young boy in the incident. We are glad he was able to finish the game and his shoulder is O.K. we believe Hockey Quebec should now take care of it,” the father said in a statement.
The father says both teens involved may face disciplinary action, and Hockey Quebec says it hopes whatever is decided will stay off camera and off social media.
