ziggy ziggy:
I guess things havent changed much since I played hockey.The mom's used to be the worst.
I used to ref minor hockey, in kingston no less. I've had to kick parents out of the arena because they were acting so badly it was not to be believed. I parent threatened me after a game as another parent praised me for finally taking action. My crime was placing my hand on the shoulder of a boy who had just thrown his stick tomahawk style after losing the game. Parents were screaming "don't touch the kids" just as others were screaming to suspend the kid.
During one game 2 boys were skating after the puck and collided together and collapsed in a heap. 2 women started screaming and nearly got into a fight, both accusing the other kid of attacking their child. The kids got up and skated away because they both knew it was an accident.
The final straw was a coach physically attacking me because he thought I had told him to go to hell.
I reffed university hockey after that but never minor hockey again. It does not surprise me that a lot of leagues have trouble attracting referees.