The President of Hockey NL says stiff suspensions are being handed out to those involved in the ‘concerning trend’ of incidents that occur during post-game handshakes.
Hockey NL brought down a trial-based ruling just before the holidays. Handshakes between teams will now occur before the game—instead of after.
The Hockey NL decision was a source of discussion and interest at the World Juniors in Sweden.
Hockey NL President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jared Butler acknowledges calls for harsher suspensions when disputes arise, but emphasizes that Hockey NL must adhere to Hockey Canada’s regulations and its suspension guidelines
Incidents are investigated and those involved are given the opportunity to present their side, which he says requires substantial volunteer hours.
He describes the situation as a bombardment from multiple angles—all while prioritizing the health and safety of everyone involved.
Dr. Butler says suspensions are merely one tool at Hockey NL’s disposal, and they may not always lead to improved behaviour.
He says they have been, and will continue to, issue stiff suspensions, but they also need to find other methods to reduce the number of incidents, in conjunction with their ability to suspend players.
