Armstrong High School students are banned from attending future school hockey games after a group of students directed sexist and vulgar chants toward the opposing team’s goalie, who is a female.
Mike White of the Post-Gazette reports that a some of the students also face disciplinary action after the game last Friday against Mars in Kittanning.
Speaking on a hockey message board, a fan who was at the game says the student section made references to tampons, used misogynistic language along with sexually harassing the goalie. They add that the goalie had visible tears in her eyes and that no one was thrown out of the game and that nothing was done at the time.
Armstrong principal Michael Cominos also posed an apology on the message board expressing their apologies to the “young lady that was ridiculed” and the Mars hockey team as a whole.
“This is certainly a mess. We are embarrassed and working hard to change the behaviors and ensure what happened Thursday night never happens again,” said Cominos.
Cominos also said they have been in contact with the venue to “express our displeasure” for the “lack of action taken on the security officers’ part as well at the arena management.”
The district has also been in contact with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League who are banning Armstrong students from attending games until “the PIHL feels we have taken enough steps to ensure appropriate behavior.”
Several commenters on the hockey board have said this is not the first time there have been issues inside the Belmont Sports Complex (where Armstrong plays their games) cities issues with both players and fans.
Mars’ coach Steve Meyers tells White that the female student is the only goalie on the roster, playing both JV and varsity games.
“We’ve had plenty of girls in this league before and never heard anything like this,” Meyers told the Post-Gazette. “With all the training we’re required to do as coaches about safe sports and sportsmanship, this should not happen. For it to fail this badly, it’s really disappointing.”