Well, minor hockey is over for another year. I know I am going to miss watching our grandson and his friends play.
To see how over the years their skating and passing skills improve and the new friends they have made has been thrilling. So has seeing the excitement on their faces after they have won a particularly hard-fought game and played the best they can.
Congratulations to those who took the thankless job of officiating.
Congratulations to the parents that stepped up to be coaches, to help in any way they could during games, tournaments and regular season events.
All of you, together, have worked hard to make it an enjoyable season.
However, to those ignorant and loud boors who apparently know the hockey rulebook from back to front, who have never missed a call, who have always played to a standard no one else could meet, you have managed to ruin many games this season for many of us.
I fail to understand why, if there is a shortage of officials and you are so knowledgeable about the game, you don’t put on your skates, and demonstrate your expertise on the ice, not in the stands.
We spectators, in the stands, do not want to hear your opinion; we are quite capable of forming our own.
I am sure you are not rude people in your normal life. What changes when you enter an arena?
The part that is so annoying about this is that these are the fathers and mothers of the children on the ice.
These are the people who should be setting an example.
To the boys, keep playing your game, enjoy it and make new friends and hone your skills. Don’t let the rudeness of a few parents take away from your game.
And please, don’t grow up to be like them.
Sandra Ballum
Red Deer