Parent says son bullied, team has ‘done nothing’

For the second time in three years, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association is looking into an alleged bullying incident involving a player in Leamington’s Southpoint minor hockey system.

Anne, who asked her real name not be used, said her 11-year-old son was repeatedly taunted and bullied by teammates since October.

In January, Anne said she met with team coaches who said they would keep an eye on the situation.

Then in February, a teammate wouldn’t allow him into the dressing room to change, saying either “no gays allowed,” or “only gays allowed.” Anne said her son was so shocked he couldn’t recall the

exact wording but wound up finding another room to get dressed in.

After that incident, Anne sent an email to other parents on the team, the coaching staff and the league’s bullying liaison and player safety representative.

“They’ve done nothing about it,” Anne said Tuesday. “Now, my son doesn’t want to play there, and how can I blame him?”

Anne and her ex-husband are trying to get their son’s player release so he can try out for a travel team in another centre.

“They didn’t do anything to support him last year,” she said.

“This is a human rights issue. He’s been violated,” the mother said.

Bill Hutton, OMHA’s risk management officer, said he received an email from Greg Liebrock, president of Southpoint Minor Hockey Association, on Tuesday morning.

“It is the first time I have heard about it,” Hutton said in an email to the Windsor Star.

Later in a telephone interview, Hutton said he checked his records and didn’t have anything from Southpoint officials about the incidents that occurred during the season.

“Not to my knowledge or my records,” Hutton said.

“What I’ve said to Greg is I need more information to decide whether I need to send someone in to investigate.”

Hutton said he has 10 retired police officers who handle investigations into code of conduct violations across the province.

According to the OMHA’s own code of conduct, which appears on its website, “Members of the OMHA shall refrain from comments or behaviours which are disrespectful, offensive, abusive, racist or sexist. In particular, behaviour, which constitutes harassment, abuse or bullying, will not be tolerated.”

Southpoint’s own website outlines a zero-tolerance policy which states: “It is the intention of Southpoint Minor Hockey for everyone — players, parents and fans — to be able to enjoy our hockey program.”

The local league’s policy says a three-person committee would deal with anyone who has acted in a way that’s “detrimental to our system.”

It further says: “The situation will be reviewed and weighed on the evidence presented. The

review board will then make a decision which may include suspension from Southpoint Minor Hockey activities for a period of time.”

Attempts to reach Liebrock by telephone were unsuccessful.

“Southpoint Minor Hockey is aware of the family’s concerns and the association, along with the OMHA, are dealing with the issue,” Liebrock said in an email.

Three years ago, the OMHA investigated a bullying incident involving a Southpoint midget house league team.

A 15-year-old player complained he was once locked in a washroom and on another occasion had his equipment trashed and soaked in the shower. Ultimately, three players were punished for their roles and Greg Dries, the association president at the time, said the league was planning to strengthen the language of its zero tolerance policy.

Anne just wants the speedy release of her son’s player rights so he can attend spring tryouts elsewhere, but Hutton warns it’s not that simple.

“A lot of associations and even parents have the understanding that local associations can release players, and they can’t,” Hutton said of the travel program. “That falls under Hockey Canada, the OHF and the OMHA regulations.”

Rules are in place so elite players can’t be poached by neighbouring associations. If a player isn’t changing where they reside, a release has to be appealed to the OMHA.

That process may not develop before next season’s travel team rosters are set this spring.

At the house league level, players can move between associations without restriction.

Hutton said the investigation continues.

It is the intention of Southpoint Minor Hockey for everyone — players, parents and fans — to be able to enjoy our hockey program