New details after coaches, parents go wild at U12 hockey game

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Some screaming, middle fingers and glass-banging apparently were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to a heated situation at a youth spring hockey game in Toronto this past weekend.

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According to the person who filmed the viral outburst and posted it on social media, that 26-second clip wasn’t all that transpired on Saturday afternoon at NFP Athletic Centre at York University.

“We were coaching the game after this. The video doesn’t do it justice,” said Connor Crisp, of Connor Crisp’s Elite Hockey. “There were multiple parent fights during the game from the beginning … The fights in the stands started in the first period.

“The game was supposed to be an hour and ran much longer because of the chaos on and off the ice.”

Crisp said one of the coaches involved in the incident “believed the other was promoting rough play in a non-contact game.”

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Where did it take place and what teams were involved?

In the video clip, a group of parents was caught on camera appearing to berate an official as U12 players left the ice and headed toward the changing rooms.

One man wearing a black jacket and hat climbed over the boards from the outside and yelled at someone on the ice while pointing at them. At first, he was restrained by a woman, but he then swatted away her hand as she attempted to get him down.

Nearby, another man wearing team apparel and a red hat was seen shouting, pointing and giving the middle finger to Crisp, who was filming the incident while standing near the opposing team’s coach.

Crisp identified the man in the red hat and another man in a Vaughan Panthers hoodie as the team’s coaches. The man who climbed on the boards was a parent.

“The opposing coach was behind me in the video so the one coach yelling was directing it at the coach behind us,” Crisp said.

As the man walked away from the camera, he stopped and slammed both palms against the glass twice before yelling toward someone on the ice.

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A blonde woman then approached and called the people on the ice “animals” and said they were “sick” in the head.

While the coaches and players wore gear representing the Panthers, the team said that “the programming in question is not affiliated with the Vaughan Panthers.”

Crisp also confirmed that the incident took place during a “non-sanctioned ‘for fun’ hockey tournament.”

How did social media react to the video?

The clip was posted to Instagram on Sunday by Crisp Hockey Training, which noted that the incident took place prior to their game on Saturday.

“U12 SPRING HOCKEY this past weekend prior to our game this past Saturday,” read the caption accompanying the video. “What is wrong with people?”

The video was later posted on X by Clanko Media, which captioned it “U12 Hockey baby!! LFG!”

Followers on social media were quick to comment on the video and the bad example it set for the kids at the rink.

“Way to teach your kids how to act and communicate,” one user wrote on X.

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“That poor wife having to pull her husband off the glass. Family memories,” another posted.

“Spring hockey where parents are obsessed with getting their kid to the show,” a third person wrote.

One user on X joked: “Wish my dad had this attitude when I was growing up. I’d be in the show for sure!”

What else did the Vaughan Panthers say?

Reached for comment, the Vaughan Panthers said that the organization is aware of the video, but that the group appearing in the clip was not participating as a Vaughan Panthers team and that “the programming in question is not affiliated with the Vaughan Panthers.”

“We recognize that individuals in the video appear to be wearing Vaughan Panthers-branded clothing,” the organization said. “However, the group shown is not participating as a Vaughan Panthers team and the programming in question is not affiliated with the Vaughan Panthers.

“As the incident did not take place within GTHL programming or at a GTHL-sanctioned event, the Vaughan Panthers have limited information regarding the full circumstances beyond what is visible in the video. As a result, we are not in a position to comment further on the incident.”

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The club also stated that it does not condone or accept the behaviour displayed by the individuals involved.

“Respect, accountability and appropriate conduct from players, parents, volunteers, and spectators are core expectations within our organization,” the team said.

On the Panthers website, the organization’s mission statement says it aims “to promote sportsmanship, teamwork, respect and dedication to the sport through discipline and effort.”

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