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So bare with me for a sec...... I was at a bantam game (if you could call it a ) last night between 2 brandon teams.  
 
No this isn't to blame a ref rant. Lol.  
 
However he was obviously new to that age group as there was an off ice official evaluating him.  
 
Started out a pretty good game actually 1-0 through half the game. When all of a sudden both teams decided to forget about what they signed up for and started taking runs at players long after the pucks were gone. I saw 4 obvious hit from behind penalties, I saw stick swinging, cross checking after the play was well down the ice Etc etc  
 
It was obvious the ref had lost control but it can't be his fault kids all of a sudden decided it was time to step on the ice and try and intentionally hurt a player. Is it coaches fault? Is it parents fault? I guess maybe a bit of both I witnessed kids who I have seen play since they were 7 years old in their first year of hitting all of a sudden think it's ok to blindside their opponent with no care of injury to the player in the other team. What happened to just trying to win the damn game. The lack of respect for the other teams players was embarrassing And that goes for both teams.  
 
I'm sorry but someone needs to change this league to none contact asap or someone is going to be seriously hurt. These 13-14 year old kids are playing for fun supposedly They have no pro career ahead of them. There is no multi year contract 5 years away.  
To be honest I feared for the safety of every kid out there from the start of the third on. The game and the puck were irrelevant. It's easy to blame a ref who didn't have a handle on the game. But that happens every night when they are on their time for $30.00 trying to become better at their job.  
 
So if coaches and parents can't control their kids from obvious attempting to injure their peers on other teams maybe BYHA should try and do something before it becomes front page news instead of just a house league hockey game.  
 
Maybe I'm over reacting maybe not. But in a league where you have such a huge difference in size and skating ability between one player and another it's only a matter of time when someone is going to be seriously injured for no reason other than he made a play along the boards and someone decided to run him from behind to be a hero.  
 
I'm sure this isn't the first game ever like that nor will it be the last. Just thought it should be said so maybe a coach or a parent would sit their kids down and explain that hockey is a great game you can play for a long time and to respect others on the ice no matter what the score is or if theire is a smaller player carrying the puck and you think you have the right to send him flying into the boards long after the puck is gone just because you can.  
Disclaimer. Not picking sides.... both teams responsible....all players responsible..... all parents and coaches should be also.

Everyone involved was at fault. I was at this game and it was just terrible. Im not excusing the players or coaches but refs need to keep and maintain control in their games. Many calls and illegal hits were missed early, and some kids even shared their concern with the refs. From there it deteriorated into vigilante justice.  
 
I also happen to know that two of the referees worked the peewee game prior to this one. During that game kids would ask about missed calls and they would just smile at them and skate away.  
 
you are right everyone is at fault. The refs however are paid to officiate a game. If its out of control they have let it get that way. They have the power to throw players out, coaches and if it came to it even call the game.  
 
This type of game is also the reason the bantams play in the southwest league. Can you imagine if these two teams played each other another 3 or 4 times? Would be even worse.

I see your point on blaming ref. He was the main cause. It's the result I have a problem with. Bad reffing doesn't give the green light for kids to all of a sudden forget they are in a hockey game and not a attemp to injure clinic.

If the refs are not controlling the game. The coaches need to step up. It's their team and they are responsible for the players on the team.  
 
I fully blame the coaches. They need to keep their players in line or they don't play and learn a lesson.

These are not 4,5,6 year olds. They are teenagers who understand every word coming out of coaches mouth.  
Coaches need to control their players

I used to coach my sons team and when he got into this age group the hitting at the start of the season was ridiculous. The second year players tee off on the first year players who sometimes forget they are playing body contact, but it's because a year ago it happened to them. When one or two big hits happen they all get into the action and decide they better forget about playing hockey and start working on this new "skill". Eventually they get back to playing hockey, well most do anyway.

I was at the game and while the game did escalate I thought the ref did s alright job. He was kicking kids out and taking players from both sides as to not effect the outcome of the game. Even though this is just house league kids are still out to compete and win. Tempers flair at all levels of sports. What I think should be pulled away is that nobody got hurt punishments were handed out and most of the kids had fun Because after the game kids from both teams were joking with each other. Let the kids play and if they don't want to play hot hockey join one of the many rec teams in the area

Really??? Let's review. One team gets a 2 minute boarding penalty on a blatant hit from behind early in the first. The other team makes the same hit and gets kicked out. Again first team gets another hit from behind and they only get 4 minutes for hit to the head. In the third in a 1-0 game another scrum occurs and the team is penalized by getting to players out for 2 minutes with no penalties to the other team.  
Yeah great job. But I digress. This post wasn't about the ref but you brought it up. As far as if you get players not wanting to play contact and should find a none hitting league.  
 
My only comment is why should they fear for their lives in a house league environment unless a parent is telling their kid to go out there and hurt someone. Like you said no one got hurt. So glad for that. But if you think no one ever gets hurt in games like that your mistaken.

Never said that. People get hurt all the time playing sports. But ive both coached and refereed hockey and commend both sets of coaches for voulenteering their time. Maybe you should be part of the solution and voulenteer your time to coach or train to be a ref and get questioned on everything. But never the less keep on criticizing and not trying to be part of the solution after all that's easier. However my opinion might be biased as well based on my experience and the fact that my kid enjoyed the game

I was at this game and was just there to enjoy some local hockey and did not know any players. But being a ref myself I have to say this ref did everything in his power to control the game and it is completely on the players and coachs. 6 players were kicked out of this game as well as several other penalties. I'm not sure what people expect when they say "control the game". A ref can only do so much, the only way to control this game was to call the game and we all know that's not an option. Coaches need to take responsibility for controlling their teams.  
 
 
And any one who knows anything about hockey would know that refferees of all levels are evaluated multiple times through out the year to provide support and ensure consistency throughout the leagues, this i:ncludes WHL and NHL refs who are evaluated every game.

I was at this game and was just there to enjoy some local hockey and did not know any players. But being a ref myself I have to say this ref did everything in his power to control the game and it is completely on the players and coachs. 6 players were kicked out of this game as well as several other penalties. I'm not sure what people expect when they say "control the game". A ref can only do so much, the only way to control this game was to call the game and we all know that's not an option. Coaches need to take responsibility for controlling their teams.  
 
 
And any one who knows anything about hockey would know that refferees of all levels are evaluated multiple times through out the year to provide support and ensure consistency throughout the leagues, this i:ncludes WHL and NHL refs who are evaluated every game.

How people seem to act. I wish all kids, coaches and parents would realize that no one is gaining anything from acting like this. It's supposed to be fun and getting kids out doing something other than screen time. Kudos to the ref for doing what he could, it's a thankless job!

Sorry but you need to re read my initial post. I was not in any way putting all the blame on the ref. Only brought that up after you said he did a great job.  
 
My point was only that I thought a few kids went above and beyond to try and hurt a kid out there. Just as an example. I saw a defence man pass the puck from just beyond the goal line. The closest forward was at the blue line. However the forward continues towards the defence man and delivers a hit well after puck was gone. He gets a interference penalty well deserved obviously. To me that's not a hockey play and that's all I'm saying.  
 
Sure kids can choose not to play in a contact sport but they also shouldn't expect to be blindsided when the puck is 40 ft away in a contact sport either.

LOL I know longer care you made some wild accusations. And summed it up with a disclaimer and being scared for players life etc. I no longer care and have moved on I suggest you do the same. See you next time we play

Funny. I thought we were on the same team. Lol.  
 
Disclaimer. I never asked you to care.

I agree no player should feel scared. Hockey is getting way out of hand and players are loading any common sense when on the ice it's terrible to see kids clearly attempt to injure each other. Parents and coachs need to focus on teaching there kids this unacceptable a simple 2 minute penalty or game ejection will not change this. fans, parents and coaches need to help change and guide these players to not play in such an unacceptable dangerous way before there are serious injures like this game could have easily had several injuries no matter how many penalties the ref gave.

I would be curious to know how the kids playing felt about the game. It has been a while(long while) since I played bantam hockey but I remember it being kill or be killed many games. And most of us were crazy enough to enjoy it. Something about more guts than brains at that age maybe.  
 
Anyhow that being said with what we know now about concussions, coaches should be trying to teach their players a better way. At the end of the day if the coach tells the players if you run somebody you are sitting the players will probably listen. Pretty tough if only one side does that though. I also think all house league or rec hockey should be non hitting. Maybe like women's hockey where some contact is ok but no actual body checks.

As usual, it's the parents. Refs, coaches, etc. can only do so much if kids are brought up without respect and common sense - on or off the ice. And when a hit goes bad and it's their kid who gets hurt, the parents will cry and sob over their little angel and wonder how on earth this could have happened. They'll shift blame and responsibility on the refs, coaches, and orgs - the same people the parents dump on and fight tooth and nail when it comes to enforcing the rules and practices that are meant to increase player safety because their kid is special and tough and if the other kids can't hack it they shouldn't be playing. It's a loser mentality that tricks idiots into thinking they're winners.

I agree with part of the above message. I was at that game as well. Kids need to learn respect for others both on and off the ice, and they learn it from home. Coaches (and teachers for that matter) can only do so much.  
 
There's a saying "You can not fail to parent your child and expect the coach to work miracles on the ice".  
 
I know that the coaches on our bench were trying to settle our boys down. It's hard for the people watching to know exactly what's happening on the bench. Kids intentionally trying to hurt others with their newly learned body contact skill is wrong. It's supposed to be fun, but yes competitive at the same time. I'm sure it will settle down, it's just the beginning of the season.  
 
My suggestion is for parents to do your best at home with your boys, send them out into the world with respect for others.