It's a tradition almost as old as the game itself, but Hockey New Brunswick is changing the way the traditional handshake line happens due to a number of suspensions. A report by CTV Atlantic states minor hockey games in New Brunswick will no longer feature the handshake line at the end of each game, opting instead to have the line happen before a game starts.
All minor hockey coaches and associations in New Brunswick have received a memo informing them of the new rules. It says the new rules are being put in place “to prevent major incidents like the one that has occurred recently in minor hockey.” Luc Martin, who is the chair of Hockey New Brunswick, would not go into specifics of the incident, but did say a number of suspensions have happened just before, during or after the traditional end-of-game handshake line this season.
“With only two minutes left in the game, we have 107 suspensions issued this year,” Martin told CTV Atlantic. “Plus the incidents after the game, when the game is finished, we've got 25 suspensions this year.”
“We're not the only level to do this. If you look at New Brunswick Central Midget Hockey League … they do the handshake before the game for the last 10 years,” said Martin. “If you look around the country … we know the Ontario Minor hockey is doing the handshake before the game also there.”
Martin says he understands not everyone will be on board with the decision, but he's counting on the support of coaches and associations to enforce the change.
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