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Deb Lewis, a Saanich Minor Hockey Association referee, says pushback against bad behaviour has been a long time coming.CHAD HIPOLITO

At a Feb. 20 junior hockey game in Penticton, B.C., an angry parent allegedly confronted a referee outside the arena, screamed abuse and threats at the official and then punched the vehicle as the referee tried to exit the parking lot.

It could have been yet another example of hockey parents behaving badly, but in this case, the police have stepped in.

"A report to Crown counsel will be submitted, recommending charges for uttering threats," RCMP Sergeant Rick Dellebuur said of the 52-year-old parent.

Hockey officials in other parts of British Columbia have had enough of the kind of rink rage episodes that are all too common at arenas across the country.

On Vancouver Island, eight parents have been banned from watching hockey games after their verbally abusive tirades and threats against referees were deemed unacceptable by the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association.

Jim Humphrey, president of the VIAHA, said dozens of the association's referees were poised to quit if the abusive behaviour of parents didn't change.

Even after several meetings with Mr. Humphrey, three decided they had had enough.

"One quit and then another quit and the next thing I knew I was told pretty much the whole referees association was going to quit," Mr. Humphrey said in an interview. "I think they were just tired of taking all the abuse they had been taking for a long time," he added.

The incident in Penticton occurred after a B.C. Hockey League game between the Merritt Centennials and the Penticton Vees.

Players in that league are generally between the ages of 16 and 20.

It's the second time in recent months that hockey antagonism here has reached the courts. In January, a junior hockey team owner on Vancouver Island was issued a peace bond directing him to stay away from the owners of a rival team after he threatened them with physical harm during a confrontation. He later told media he "regretted it 100 per cent."

Deb Lewis, a senior referee with the Saanich Minor Hockey Association, said strong pushback against abusive behaviour has been a long time coming. She applauded the move by the VIAHA to ban the abusive parents.

"I think they [the association] got the point across that that type of behaviour is not acceptable," she said.

Ms. Lewis's son, who refereed minor hockey when he was a teenager, ended up quitting because of constant negative comments from parents.

"Referees are not perfect; we make mistakes. But to have someone scream and yell at you when you make those mistakes, it's pretty uncomfortable.

"And it takes our attention away from the game on the ice," she said.

Despite recent events, Mr. Humphrey is quick to emphasize that the problem is limited to a small group of parents.

"The majority, probably 98 per cent, just want to watch their children play hockey," he said.

After the VIAHA banned the problem parents, Mr. Humphrey said that 22 parents e-mailed him to applaud the decision. They mentioned they were "behind him 100 per cent," and that it was "about time we take these people to task."

He also talked to several players who were very satisfied with the decision.

"They would prefer to go to a game and not have their dad or their mom yelling and screaming at someone, because it's embarrassing to them," he said.

With files from The Canadian Press

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