Speaking up on a gripping issue: The head of a minor hockey association talks about those post-game handshakes that are banned by HockeyNL

Published: Jan. 10, 2024, 3:40 a.m.

Some minor hockey teams in western Newfoundland have gone against a directive from Hockey NL. The organization eliminated the traditional post-game handshakes in boys' minor hockey late last month. The handshake is supposed to be a show of sportsmanship, but it has devolved into fights and insults several times. Switching to a pre-game handshake or fist bump was meant to stop those incidents. But a couple of teams in the Port aux Basques Minor Hockey Association decided to shake hands anyway after some games on the weekend. Brock Seaward is the president of that group.