Column

From The Daily News of Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. . . .

In case you didn't hear, the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association had a pretty good weekend.

None of its players ended up drunk and in hospital.

Seriously, it has become apparent -- slap-in-the-face apparent -- that those in charge of the KMHA just don't get it.

You may recall that on the night of Oct. 20 a member of the midget AAA North Kamloops Lions got drunk at a party in the home of the KMHA president. The teenager was so drunk that he ended up in hospital, hooked up to oxygen and on an IV.

Despite the fact that this incident could have been disastrous in more ways than one, the has KMHA refused to accept any responsibility for what happened, nor is it holding its president or anyone else accountable.

Rather than concerning itself with how an incident like this could take place anywhere, never mind in the home of its president, the KMHA seems more concerned with how the media learned of this incident.

It turns out that the KMHA doesn't have any use for whistleblowers.

"I believe the real story here is that there is a non-parent/guardian . . . bringing this incident to the media's attention for a personal agenda and to no concern of the players in our Association," reads an e-mail to The Daily News from KMHA vice-president Jason Perris, who also is chariman of the KMHA's discipline committee.

In fairness to Perris, he did write on top of the e-mail that this "is my personal view and statement. This does not represent KMHA's viewpoint or stand on the subject in any way."

Still, Perris, as the KMHA's first vice-president, conducted the association's investigation into the incident. He started it Oct. 21 and issued a statement Oct. 23.

The Daily News was tipped about the incident Oct. 22, while at least one other media outlet learned of it the following day. By then, the player's guardian, afraid that the KMHA was going to sweep this mess under the carpet, was calling media outlets.

But the "real story" has nothing to do with how the media, and therefore the general public, found out about this situation.

Rather, the "real story" has to do with a young man who could have died under suspect circumstances after being at a party in the home of the KMHA president. The "real story" is that there are a whole bunch of unanswered questions surrounding this party.

But rather than bringing someone in to conduct an independent investigation, to seek out answers to the numerous questions hovering over this morass, the KMHA has stuck its head in the sand. The statement Perris issued after he conducted his investigation reads, in part: "This incident was not a sanctioned or an endorsed team event, therefore KMHA will accept no responsibility for the events of that night and no disciplinary action will be taken by KMHA."

Sorry. That's just not good enough.

Minor hockey administrators, parents and players all have to sign contracts that call for them to abide by the Fair Play Code.

Included in the administrator's contract are two clauses: "I will observe the rules of B.C. Hockey such as the Zero Tolerance to alcohol and banned substances" and "I will not condone the athletic use of alcohol, drugs or banned performance-enhancing substances."

The parental contract includes the second of those clauses, while the player contract includes the first one.

Nowhere in these contracts does it mention sanctioned or endorsed events.

And still the KMHA has chosen to look the other way.

If the KMHA isn't prepared to bring in an independent party to take a look at what occurred on the night of Oct. 20, then perhaps it's time for Hockey Canada, the governing body of amateur hockey in our country, to take a peak.

This would be the same Hockey Canada whose mandate and mission statement reads:

"Hockey Canada believes . . .

"In the development of life skills which will benefit participants throughout their lives.

"In the values of fair play and sportsmanship, including the development of respect for all people by all participants.

"In the importance for participants to develop dignity and self-esteem.

"To instill the values of honesty and integrity in participants at all times."

And this would be the same Hockey Canada whose articles, bylaws and regulations include this paragraph:

"A player, team official, executive member, team, club or association or any other Hockey Canada member found by an investigative process to have condoned, initiated or to the detriment of another participated in hazing actions or behaviours shall be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion from Hockey Canada registered programs."

This isn't to suggest that there was hazing at this party, but the spectre is there.

Perhaps, then, it's time Hockey Canada started asking some questions.

Meanwhile, on another front, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League has named Princeton Posse head coach Dale Hladun to the coaching staff of an all-star team that will play an exhibition game Thursday in Nelson.

Hladun is serving a 12-game suspension after his Posse instigated an embarrassing one-sided brawl against the Chiefs in Chase on Sept. 29.

Hladun fessed up to being completely responsible for this debacle, for which he gets a dozen games -- most of which were automatic -- and a reward.

Teenagers drinking in the home of the minor hockey association president? A coach instigating a line brawl, admitting it and being rewarded?

Is there not something wrong with these pictures?