Hockey league shaken by mom's zeal

Complaints she lifted blouse at game

Taunted fans, parents of 11-year-olds

DONOVAN VINCENT, SPORTS REPORTER, Dec. 4, 2004

The president of the Greater Toronto Hockey League says he's "aghast" over an alleged incident at a hockey game in Mississauga where an irate mother of an 11-year-old minor hockey player apparently taunted parents and fans of opposing players by lifting her blouse, revealing her bra and shaking her breasts "from side to side."

The GTHL has invited the woman to a special committee meeting Wednesday where disciplinary steps, such as banning her from arenas, will be considered.

The alleged incident reportedly happened during a confrontation that erupted mostly between parents of players on two opposing minor pee-wee teams: the York Toros and Mississauga Terriers. The teams played Monday night in the Erin Mills Twin Arena.

In a letter to the GTHL, one parent who witnessed the alleged incident called it "unfortunate" and "disturbing" to witness.

"She lifted her top well above her breasts. (Wearing a bra) she shook (her breasts) side to side," the mother wrote. The mother, who has young boys, says she headed for the exits soon after with her sons but ran into her again. The woman claims the other woman said: "What the hell are you looking at? Have you never seen t--s?

"Yeah, he's probably seen them on the Internet," she reportedly said, according to the woman's letter.

Parents told the GTHL the alleged incident happened about three minutes before the end of the match. The woman has a son who plays for the Toros, which went on to win the game, 4-0.

When reached by the Star last night by phone, the woman said she didn't want to discuss the matter. "That's none of your business," she said.

"I have no comment, definitely not," she said, adding that the matter is being handled by the GTHL.

"Go ahead and write whatever you like."

GTHL head John Gardner says he's very troubled by the matter."What prompts people to do these types of things? I'm not a psychiatrist, I can't tell you," Gardner said yesterday. It's unclear exactly what preceded the alleged incident. He said the City of Mississauga has also been made aware of the situation.

"It's a little disturbing. We're talking 11-year-olds here," Gardner said, adding the GTHL received a number of complaints about the alleged incident from upset mothers.

"We haven't talked to the individual. Who's to say what caused her to create this form of disruption?

"I couldn't believe it when I received the first call Tuesday," he added.

According to Hockey Canada's code of conduct, any parent of a player whose conduct in an arena is legitimately deemed to be disruptive and not conducive to the well-being of the game may be banned from arenas as determined by the board or special committee for a specified period of time. The onus of enforcing the ban falls upon the club to which the spectator is related.

George Butler, president of the Toros, said he was aware of the situation but didn't have a comment because he's still getting information about the case.

"There are a lot of stories going around. Until I hear what comes out of the hearing I'm not going to comment," he said. Toros' GM Nancy Baldwin didn't return the Star's calls.

According to one adult who works closely with the Terriers team and was there at the time, the atmosphere in the stands was extremely rowdy, with some parents of players from both teams yelling and swearing at one another, leaving some young children in tears.

"Parents were behaving worse than the kids, but we're supposed to be the example," said the source, who asked not to be named.

"I feel sorry for (the woman's) son. Hopefully the GTHL can resolve this situation."