Saturday, December 15, 2018
Hazing-Part Two
I do not
often spread a topic over two weeks. Such is the case, this time.
In last
weeks blurb, the issue of hazing was tied to bullying. Both of these
topics relate to power, to the people who have it and how they use,
or abuse it. As a result of the hazing, and the abuse of power,
individuals are subjected to traumatic experiences, and needlessly
suffer from them.
I am not
wearing rose-coloured glasses here. We have all experienced trauma,
on many different occasions. We learn how to deal with it, how to
cope with it. Hazing involves unnecessary trauma, making it just
plain wrong.
Ryan Munce
experienced this type of trauma as a rookie goaltender with the
Sarnia Sting in 2002-2003. “I was shocked when it happened. It goes
against the fabric of what you're supposed to be doing,” he stated
in the radio interview. He was supposed to be involved in a team-
building exercise.
He was
supporting the position taken by Daniel Carcillo, an NHL player who
retired in 2015. Carcillo has been experiencing the effects of too
many shots to the head, and is no longer involved in the game.
Carcillo played 429 games in the National Hockey League, for the
Coyotes, the Black Hawks, the Kings and the Rangers. He amassed 1233
penalty minutes in those games, and had 100 points.
As is the
case in all walks of life, there is a code of behaviour, often
unwritten, to which members of the group must conform. Hazing
generally falls into that category with sports teams. Shoulders are
shrugged, there may be some quiet mumbling among the coaches and
management, activities are condoned.
But when the
hazing involves serious physical or sexual abuse, the line of
appropriate behaviour has been crossed. It should not be tolerated.
It should be reported.
Many of the
sports in question are physical in nature. Football players must be
strong and aggressive to be successful. Hockey players also need to
be aggressive, must be able to perform well on skates, and carry
sticks to bang on opponents, legally. Neither game is for the feint
of heart.
Veteran
players feel that hazing is sort of a test of a young player's heart.
If he, or she, can take the abuse, then they belong. Bizarre
thinking, but that's the way it is.
Ryan Munce
was asked in the interview why he just didn't leave when he was
hazed. “I did not want to give up on my dreams. Occasionally, some
players (in that situation) get traded. Some get sent home.
Munce never
did make it to the NHL. He played three years for the Sting, then
several years in the American Hockey League, and the ECHL. He retired
from hockey as a player in 2011. He is still involved in the game. I
am certain he keeps a close eye on “rookie activities”. And that
is a good thing.
He is
helping to break the chain of unnecessary violence.
James Hurst
December
2018.
# posted by James Hurst @ 9:27 AM 
