Hockey moms beginning to drop their gloves
Julie Beaulieu agrees. “My son plays House League, and it’s not as competitive as it used to be. It’s really just to have fun. It is good ex- ercise for the kids, and it has been a good year, especially with the new Benson Centre in Cornwall.” Francoise Champagne recalls when her sons used to play hockey. “ It was fun back then because we met as parents when our kids played and we became friends. I liked traveling with the team. It was very compet- itive, but the kids learned a lot, and they had fun. My grandchildren now play hockey, and my son is now coaching. They played their last game on the Senator’s ice at Scotia- bank Place. It was great, and seeing them play brought back a lot of memories.” “When my kids get home after a game,” continues MacDonald ,“ I’m not going to sit there and say, it’s alright dear, as long as you’re having fun, that’s all that matters.” “I know for a fact that part of having that fun is winning, and I know they’re out there to win, but I also know that there are a lot parents who can’t take losing. All and all I know of very few hockey moms who don’t use a little old-fashioned courtesy and good sportsmanship.” MacDonald said that it’s strange the way some people behave when they’re on the sidelines, yelling and screaming at the offi- cial, whereas if you saw the same person walking down the street doing the same thing, they would probably be locked away. “I feel I have witnessed just as many women as men act inappropriately in the stands. I always feel more for the parent’s kids then anything else. “ “But that’s all in a days work when you’re a teammanager, coach, (now ref) team nurse and even hockey mom.”
By Lisa Etherington-Runions Do you remember what your mother told you way back when, it isn’t whether you win or lose the game; it’s how you play it! Well, some present day mothers feel that this has changed. What did mother ever know about getting up at 5:30 in the morning, driving across county in the dark, during a snow storm just to make an early morning game. But that isn’t until after you have dropped off hot dog buns for the latest fund-raising event, so they can buy new uniforms for their kid’s hockey team. And that’s to say nothing about the pres- sure of competition, the petty politics, keep- ing the kids’ spirits up because they haven’t won a game in over three weeks, trying to maintain a civil tongue while standing on the sidelines, and watch some ref make one stupid call after another, and after all, it’s now only 6:30 in the morning. Moms back then never had to lean on a coach to make sure you got the playing time you deserved. Easy for her to spout all those moralistic platitudes about fair play and having fun. Maybe that’s how it was in her day. But that sure isn’t how it is anymore. Helen MacDonald feels hockey moms work a little harder then hockey dads, sim- ply because they wear more hats. “I know that in this day of being politically correct you’re not supposed to say things like that, but when was the last time you saw a hockey No longer shrinking lillies when it comes to Canada’s sport
Special photo Has the role of hockey mom’s changed? Some say women are becoming more involved in their kids’ play, but not always in a positive way. “I know for a fact that
ing out his hockey bag, she found a piece of paper with a list of names on it. It took her a fewminutes to realize that it wasn’t just a list of friends, but a hit list, of kids who had pushed him around in previ- ous games. “I couldn’t believe it. My son was always quiet about what went on in the games. So needless to say we spoke with
dad baking cookies for the lat- est team fund-raiser?” said MacDonald. Although she is serious when it comes to the differences in parenting in regards to sports, she claims that there is nothing stronger then having both par- ents working together in effort to help their children’s team. “This is the thing that brings the families together.” states MacDonald.
part of having that fun is winning, and I know they’re out there to win, but I also know that there are a lot parents who can’t take losing. Helen MacDonald
him, but this incident also gave me a new perspective on organized sports. I still have kids involved in hockey, and I enjoy it, be- cause we want them to just have fun with it.”
Terri Forrester recalls when one of her sons, then aged 12, was playing on a competitive traveling hockey team. One day, while clean-
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