The parents of a Woodstock teen involved are taking legal action after their son was repeatedly punched in the head in an altercation during a hockey game in January.
Wes and Julie Major were watching the game, and Julie was recording, when their son, Nick Major allegedly ‘snowed the goalie’ and a melee broke out on the ice.
Initially Nick was suspended for two games, and the teen who punched him was suspended for four, but after reviewing the video, the league cancelled Nick’s suspension.
Although there is a grey area when it comes to violence in hockey, assault charges are on the rise.
According to Hockey Canada, there are now three to five charges laid each year in minor hockey.
Woodstock police Chief Rod Freeman says “There's going to have to be a real close analysis of the witness evidence, the video evidence, just to make that determination so we can make the right decision…Unfortunately society condones a certain level of violence in hockey, and that's what's created this grey area.”
Maria Velda, team manager for the Woodstock team, released a statement after the incident.
It reads in part “The reaction of the Brantford players to the situation was extreme and unnecessary…It was very unfortunate that this game ended the way it did. I believe there would have been a very different outcome if the Brantford coaches would have had control of their bench.”
London lawyer Matt Baer of Siskinds LLP says if charges are laid it will be a challenging case to handle.
"It’s really is difficult. It’s commonly accepted in the law and within the hockey community that when someone decides to play hockey they are accepting risk and they are accepting contact.”
The investigation is still underway, but Baer says it’s important for athletes to remember that it is possible to go too far.
“Playing hockey doesn't give you the licence to do whatever you want when you're on the ice. You can cross the line and there are cases where there have been criminal charges brought.”
