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A thread with an example of what I mean when I say even though the vast majority of INDIVIDUAL hockey players are upstanding and classy people, HOCKEY CULTURE in general has toxic qualities: 1/9
There’s things in hockey that are absolute no-no’s. You never shoot the puck after the whistle, for example. That’s considered disrespectful to your opponent. Whoever does this is always, ALWAYS greeted by an opponent or two or even three to make sure it’s understood as wrong.2/9
You never let your jersey touch the floor. That’s considered disrespectful to your team and your teammates. Anyone who does this, you can bet his team mates are going to be all over them, and pretty pissed off about it to. It’s a disgrace to the game itself to do these things.3/9
But let’s just say you’re all sitting around and “the boys” are telling stories you find offensive to women, for example, or you hear a racist joke. One or two guys are genuinely laughing. There’s some polite smiles scattered around. Some people don’t react either way. 4/9
There’s two or three though who are pretty pissed off, just as mad as the ones who just cursed out another player for throwing his jersey on the ground or shooting at their goalie after the whistle. So they speak up. They say hey, maybe cool it with the racist jokes, ok? 5/9
Now the player who told the joke is a bit put off. Come on, it was just a joke! I didn’t mean anything by it. Guess who gets talked to the most? Guess which one gets labelled “the problem in the room”? The guy who doesn’t quite gel with the rest of the team? 6/9
Remember, the vast majority are only laughing or not reacting because they decide to pick their battles. They don’t want to be the ones to stir the pot. Or maybe they truly think so what? That’s just how locker rooms are. It’s just for fun. 7/9
They aren’t bad people. It’s just the way it’s always been. They don’t want to be “the problem”. Which is exactly what the problem is. It’s not the majority of the players. The families. The coaches. It’s the culture. 8/9
Saying hockey culture needs an upgrade AND that most people involved are good people aren’t conflicting statements. It doesn’t mean we have to blow the game right up. We don’t have to throw the whole meal in the garbage. The pot just needs a little stirring. 9/9
