Real Problems In Hockey

As a broadcaster for women's hockey, I've been witness to people disregarding women's hockey for years. The legitimacy of women's hockey can't be disputed if viewership during the Olympics is any measure, but it becomes harder to digest the reasons people delegitimize women's hockey when it comes to professional leagues or at the amateur level. If asked, I surely would be biased in my views thanks to my work in and around the game, so reading the findings of a new Angus Reid Institute poll simply make me shake my head.

There's a growing push to change the culture of hockey to make it more inclusive for all people, but the basic acceptance of women's hockey still seems to be a looming problem in the game. According to the recent data collected by the Angus Reid Institute, "more than half of those who have played or coached youth hockey (56%) say they perceive the treatment of women and girls by young male hockey players as misogynistic or disrespectful."

MORE THAN HALF of youth male players. In 2021.

What makes this worse is that the number "increases to 63 per cent among those who did not play but identify as having spent time around the game cheering on a close friend, family member, or partner."

Who are teaching young male hockey players these things? Clearly, this has to be environmental because boys aren't born with a prejudice against women's hockey. I think you know what I'm alluding to, and it comes down to what they hear and see from parents, coaches, and role models. I don't know what the demographics were in terms of who was polled from where, but knowing that more than half of those polled see misogynistic or disrespectful treatment of girls or women in the next generation of men's hockey stars means we are failing these kids, both girls and boys.

This is easily correctable for most people, but it requires someone to call out these behaviours so that we can teach our young male hockey players to do better. With practices and games closed to most people this season, it means we, as a society, have some work to do, but we start by putting women into positions where they have a direct impact on these players whether it be coaching or managing. Putting women into these positions doesn't allow for the misogyny to creep in where players are questioning the credentials of these women when it comes to experience and knowledge.

Beyond that, it requires our coaches and managers to start recognizing that skill and knowledge should outrank gender when it comes to hiring women for these positions. As much as we lament the "old boys' club", it does exist at every level in hockey, and it's breaking that narrow-minded thinking that allows great coaches such as Kori Cheverie to step behind the bench of the OUA's Ryerson Rams men's team and Florence Schelling to occupy by a general manager's chair. The ability to do the job shouldn't be based on gender when it comes to earning wins and losses.

This poll data is an indictment of our game, Canada. We need to be teaching our young men to be better people, and having them disrespect women and girls isn't remotely close to that. The solution for this is found in every community club, every minor hockey program, every amateur hockey association, and every household where hockey is played, watched, discussed, and dreamed about as a future.

The Angus Reid research didn't stop there when it came to the indictments, though, as they went into other topics that might make Canadians do a little reflection. The other poll results show:

• Racism is a problem in the game with "58 per cent among those who identify as a visible minority" saying it exists, some "nine points higher than Caucasian respondents (49%)".
• "[T]wo-thirds of Canadians (64%) who coached or played youth hockey say the game culture has a problem with players bullying kids outside of the rink."
• "88 per cent of Canadians say that organized hockey is too expensive for lower-income people to play."
• "62 per cent of Canadians have at least one connection to youth hockey, be it playing themselves, someone close to them playing, or watching the game at the community level as a supporter."
• "Nine-in-ten (93%) Canadians say hockey provides a sense of identity and community in this country, while 87 per cent say it teaches good qualities such as hard work and dedication."

The last two points show how engrained this game is on our society with 62% of people having a connection to youth hockey while 93% derive some sort of identity from the game and 87% believe it teaches qualities like hard work and dedication. I'm not here to debate these numbers, but it goes to show how hockey really does play a role in a vast number of Canadians' lives.

In saying that, look at the other three points - racism is present, bullying is present, and it's way too expensive. Hockey can't be for everyone if racism, bullying, and economic inequalities keep people from enjoying the game, so we, as Canadians, need to be better by holding each other accountable when instances of racism, bullying, misogyny, and disrespect are seen in youth hockey so that the game gets better as these players mature.

It will take communities and corporate entities to ensure that economic inequalities are removed to allow more players into the game, and that starts with ensuring that kids who can't afford equipment can get it. It starts with making sure that ice times are affordable to all teams regardless of socioeconomic statuses. It starts with inviting underprivileged kids to games and letting them experience the cold rush of air hit their faces as they enter the arena, the rattle of the glass when players crash into the boards, and the thrill of hearing the horn and cheers when a player scores.

If hockey is for everyone, let's start correcting the problems that keep everyone from enjoying it. Without doubt, there will be hard discussions when it comes to these topics, but they're discussions that need to be had based on the Angus Reid Institute's findings. We aren't doing our youth hockey players any favours by allowing these behaviours to continue, so it's time to sit down, examine every program, and ensure that hockey is inclusive for all at every level.

Hockey is a tough game as it is. Having additional roadblocks such as racism, bullying, misogyny, and disrespect are enough to turn some kids away entirely despite how much they love playing. If we want to remain as one of the best countries in the world when it comes to hockey, we can use all the help we can get and having kids walk away because of racism, bullying, misogyny, and disrespect means we're limiting our chances of success.

We can be better, Canada. Let's get to work.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!