The President of Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador says handshakes and displays of sportsmanship in minor hockey are not being banned; rather, the timing of these practices is what’s changing.

In an exclusive interview with VOCM News, Hockey NL President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jared Butler explains that handshakes between teams will now occur before the game—when coaches and officials traditionally shake hands—instead of after the game concludes.

Dr. Butler attributes the change to what he describes as a “concerning trend” of incidents during post-game handshakes. He says no particular incident led to the decision, but one incident is enough.

He views it as a means to balance the health and safety of participants with the crucial role of sportsmanship and its teaching.

Under Hockey Canada’s maltreatment rules, Hockey NL has recorded 3.01 maltreatment penalties per 1,000 players, the second-highest rate per player in Canada.

Dr. Butler says this is happening on a trial basis in minor hockey for ages U-11 to U-18 only, the group the Minor Council believes will benefit most in terms of health and safety.

He says, as with all trials, they will collect data and analyze trends to determine the impact of the rule change. They will discuss their findings with the members, share the results, and then decide on the rule’s future.

The decision by Hockey NL faced strong national backlash, with many parents expressing that it showed a lack of leadership and missed an opportunity for a teachable moment.

In response to those concerns, Dr. Butler explains that sportsmanship is still being taught, but the timing has been adjusted to prioritize physical and mental health and safety.

He acknowledges that, as a large, province-wide, volunteer-run organization, communication sometimes misses the mark and it’s something they will work on.

New Year, New Strategy

Dr. Butler mentions that processes slated for the New Year are in place to enhance how Hockey NL communicates with its members and the public. These initiatives aim to review and improve the organization’s outreach.

He notes that they are striving to modernize their communication strategies and are excited about a new partnership coming in 2024.

Addressing parents and concerned individuals, Dr. Butler assures that Hockey NL is committed to resolving the current issues and improving future communications to prevent similar concerns.

Dr. Butler says it’s being done in other jurisdictions like the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and there’s been no lack of sportsmanship.