Hockey culture can be quite abusive at times, but some fans tend to take things way too far.
During a Thursday game between Pittsburgh-area Armstrong High School and Mars Hockey Club, a number of Armstrong students began a sexually explicit chant directed at a female goaltender on the Mars team, leaving the unnamed goaltender in tears.
Because of their disgusting actions, all Armstrong students have been banned from attending hockey games, while the students who allegedly participated in the chants may face further disciplinary action.
“In my mind, this should’ve been stopped immediately by anyone that was there who has any moral value at all. I’m disgusted by it. … There were a lot of people there who could’ve handled this differently,” Armstrong principal Kirk Lorigan said via Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Mars head coach Steve Meyers spoke out after the incident.
“We have no one else. She plays varsity and JV for us. We’ve had plenty of girls in this league before and never heard anything like this. With all the training we’re required to do as coaches about safe sports and sportsmanship, this should not happen. For it to fail this badly, it’s really disappointing.”
Armstrong principal Kirk Lorigan said he was “appalled” by the actions of his students.
“It’s certainly an unfortunate and embarrassing situation,” Lorigan said … “I’m disgusted by it.”
“We will continue to do our best to change these behaviors,” Lorigan said. “This should not happen to anyone, anywhere, in any school district in the United States.”
