A minor hockey match at the Jean-Labonté Provincial Tournament in Gatineau degenerated spectacularly last Friday.
Pitting the Outaouais Olympics against the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the M18-AA category, the match played at the Frank-Robinson arena was marked by nearly 300 minutes of penalties and altercations in the stands.
Tensions rose in the third period, with fights between players, gross misconduct and verbal abuse towards officials.
The parents, for their part, exchanged blows, requiring the intervention of the Gatineau Police Department.
However, the situation was under control upon their arrival and no arrests were made in the absence of formal complaints.
Hockey Quebec strongly denounced these behaviors in a written statement, calling them “unacceptable,” recalling their campaign to promote respect in sport.
For his part, the sponsor of the tournament, Jean Labonté, described the incident as isolated.
“116 of the 117 matches went well,” explains the former Paralympian, member of the national team between 1996 and 2010. “This kind of behavior, on and off the ice, does not reflect the spirit of our tournament.”
Hockey Aylmer, Hockey Outaouais and the regional chief referee did not wish to comment on the incident.
The tournament organizers plan, as they do every year, to take stock and make adjustments to avoid such excesses in the future.
This event highlights the recurring challenges in minor hockey regarding respect and integrity, both on the ice and in the stands.
With information from Louis-Charles Poulin
