Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A local youth hockey coach reacts to the shocking video of a parent jumping onto the ice during a youth hockey game in Seattle and shoving two teenage referees onto the ice.
"Obviously you're initially shocked that a parent would step out of the playing surface, and then assault a referee," said Mike Drezek, who coaches youth hockey with Southtowns Stars. "My initial response, was shock, but then it was almost that of not surprised, and a little bit of that just because of some of the things that you see out there."
Drezek says disrespect toward officials is not seen often here in Western New York arenas.
"I think we got things in a pretty good space as far as respect," he said, but adds you go online and you see some parents go out of control.
Drezek is always hearing yelling from parents, but it's usually positive, cheering on their kids and their team.
"Another team takes a penalty, you may hear a parent yelling at that kid. It does cross over into yelling at referees on a missed call, or a parent is disappointed they made a call against their team. But I haven't seen anything that has crossed the line in terms of abuse of officials," Drezek said.
He thinks that's from a good relationship between parents and coaches at the start of the season.
"I think the coach can set the tone for parent expectations at the arena. I know USA Hockey also puts out a parent code of conduct," Drezek said, noting posters placed throughout local arenas emphasizing sportsmanship.
Drezek has a brother who is a referee, and has expressed being discouraged over parents arguing with officials at games.
"I think the good referees have a good handle on that, and kind of set that tone from the start. But I think it's especially important with our youngest of referees. He has a lot of experience, but our kids that are just starting out at the high school level, if they're experiencing that type of behavior. They're not going to stay in it," warned Drezek.
The parent has been banned from games in that organization in Seattle.