Hockey Culture
Hockey, traditionally, is an aggressive sport. With body contact as one of its main components in combination with the speed and intensity of the players, aggression and toughness are key elements to an individual being successful in this sport. These are also key elements to violent activity, which is a common occurrence in hockey when viewed by individuals who know little about the game or have little interest in hockey. However, to many hockey fans, these are not acts of violence but merely parts of the game, which are widely accepted within the hockey culture; therefore, this is "violent/normal". Not only are these elements key to success on the ice but also they are important to a player's popularity with the fans and with the media. The fans do not only expect aggression and toughness, but these elements are highly celebrated within the hockey culture. This "violent/normal" behaviour is evident not only in professional hockey but it also exists amongst the fans of this professional level. It can be seen in minor hockey, among the parents of these young players, as well as the coaches and referees. It is also an area of debate in women's hockey. There is a line of course where even to those of the view that this is
This type of fan aggression is also present in minor hockey as well. The highly publicized case of the father in Massachusetts fighting his son's coach and accidentally killing him is a perfect example of this audience aggression. A father upset at the decision making of the coach, and argument ensues which leads to a fight and resulting in a manslaughter charge (Tresniowski et. al., 2002, p. 50). From the time that this incident was first reported to the present, it seems that reporting the occurrence of these types of incidences at minor hockey games has become a fad among reporters. A plausible inference is that these types of instances have been going on for quite some time before this incident and it is only now that they exist in the newspapers. This type of aggression, although is an extension of pride, goes far beyond the simple pride issue of the pro hockey fans. This runs to a very personal level where the issue involves family. Far too frequently, the result of perceived mistreatment of one's son in the ice rink has resulted in fights, whether it is with a coach, referee, or another parent. This part of the culture, despite being a small minority, is very damaging not only to the individuals involved but all of the minor hockey players, minor hockey programs, and hockey in general.
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Approximate Word count = 2285
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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