Minnesota Hockey Journal

24 Photos / Minnesota Hockey M H J ON L I N E . C O M | J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 24 Minnesota Hockey's Honor the Game Tournament aims to eliminate unsportsmanlike behavior on the ice and in the stands A NEW CODE OF CONDUCT b y K E L S E Y H A N S O N ON A SUNDAY EVENING IN 2019, MIKE TERWILLIGER, FORMER HOCKEY PROGRAMS MANAGER AT MINNESOTA HOCKEY, left a Peewee C conso- lation game where he witnessed the worst behavior at a hockey game he had ever seen in his life. "The behavior from top to bot- tom was awful," Terwilliger said. "The parents, players and coaches toward the officials, the players towards their opponents, players toward their own coaches. I even had to break up some situations between parents in the stands." On his drive home, he picked up the phone to call Glen Andresen, Executive Director of Minnesota Hockey. During that phone call, Terwilliger and Andresen started brainstorming what they could do to address the issue of par- ent, player and coach behavior at hockey games. They came up with an idea for a tournament that centered around sportsmanship and conduct, while providing an opportunity for high-level, com- petitive play. This was how the Honor the Game Tournament—an event total- ly unique to Minnesota Hockey— began to take form. THE REASON Unfortunately, the unsportsman- like conduct Terwilliger observed isn't uncommon. In fact, so many officials are verbally berated by parents and coaches that reten- tion has been difficult across the youth sporting landscape. According to USA Hockey's reg- istration data, nearly 33% of offi- cials quit within their first year, and 50% don't return for a second. Jim Smith, an assigner for USA Hockey District 1, shares that appropriate behavior at hockey games—as well as other sporting events—is on the decline. Many officials have reported being hit by players and even being fol- lowed by parents to their cars after a game. "It's out of control," Smith said. THE TOURNAMENT To bring the concept of this tour- nament to life, Terwilliger and Andresen partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance. The Honor the Game Tournament is in its third year, held annually at Tria Rink—the practice facility for the Minnesota Wild. "It's a tournament just like any other tournament. We want a champion, we want highly com- petitive games," said Connor Clark, Hockey Programs Manager for Minnesota Hockey. "We just want to remove the negative behavior that happens in those competitive environments." Some of the ways this tourna- ment addresses poor conduct is through interaction and challeng- es. For parents, they are encour- aged to sit with families from the opposing team and to shake hands after the game. Players are chal- lenged to have no unsportsman- like conduct or bench penalties. But perhaps the most effective way this tournament addresses "Having each official speak takes 45 seconds, and it elevates the referees to the platform of humanity. Everyone realizes that they love the sport and are here to do their job to the best of their ability." —Connor Clark, Minnesota Hockey

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