Unacceptable Behaviour in Moncton

[Sarah]

On Friday February 17th 2006, I drove to Moncton with seven other Moosehead fans from Halifax. We came to support our team along with other groups of Moosehead fans scattered throughout the Moncton Coliseum. Like the Metro Centro in Halifax, they announced prior to the game that spectators acting in an inappropriate manner would be evicted from the Coliseum. However, once the game started it quickly became evident that these rules were not enforced. Moncton players threatened, cursed and spit at the Halifax players from above their bench. Four Moncton fans in particular even started yelling at us as spectators and still, the security and the ushers did nothing but watch. After the first period, one Moosehead fan complained to the usher of this behavior.
During second period though, this behavior actually escalated and by the third period, no actions had been taken against these disrespectful fans despite numerous complaints from Halifax fans. After the third period I approached a security guard who was watching the whole situation and he told me that it was not his job to control the situation. He had not seen anything that was unacceptable. He told me that there was nothing that he could do. It was a hockey game; what should I expect? So I explained to him that I expected to be treated with respect, to have our players be treated with respect. Is it so unfair to go to a game to support your team and expect to actually watch a hockey game? The players are there to represent Halifax and should not be subjected to being spit on. As I was speaking to the security guard who had informed me that his job was not to control the situation, one of the Moncton fans who had been hanging over the Moosehead bench spitting, came over to the security guard and congratulated him on a good game!
As a fan that has been to numerous Quebec Major Junior Hockey games throughout the league, I have never been so appalled by the behavior that I witnessed in Moncton. This year they are hosting the Memorial Cup. Is this the type of behavior that the QMJHL perceives as being acceptable? As fans our complaints were completely disregarded and as hockey players, the boys were subjected to being spit at. In my opinion this is completely unacceptable behavior that should have been addressed during the game. This is not appropriate behavior for a team in the Quebec League, especially for one that is set to host the Memorial Cup this spring.


Sarah

[F_CSM]

Sounds like a major issue. I agree, I would not have tollerated that kind of behavior either.

My only question is why did you let your complaint stop at the minimum wage security guard? I can't say I've ever been to a QMJHL game but I'm sure there had to be some higher ranking building or team personnel around that would have listened to your very valid complaint.

If I were you, I wouldn't let this incident fade away. If you don't feel safe going to a visiting team's arena, I'd be sure to let the League know all about your experience.

[Minor League Man]

Canadians...Go fig.

[adsco]

Sounds like a major issue. I agree, I would not have tollerated that kind of behavior either.

My only question is why did you let your complaint stop at the minimum wage security guard? I can't say I've ever been to a QMJHL game but I'm sure there had to be some higher ranking building or team personnel around that would have listened to your very valid complaint.

If I were you, I wouldn't let this incident fade away. If you don't feel safe going to a visiting team's arena, I'd be sure to let the League know all about your experience.

Are you sure they were Hockey fans? Sounds like a soccer game to me!

Just kidding!

Actually the behaviour was unacceptable, and the police should have been called and the guard fired.

The Candain Hockey League should be notified. I believe they would actually do something.

Moncton should lose the Memorial Cup - we'll take take up here in Toronto - we have two good arenas, in the Air Canada Center, and the Richo Colisuim right close - or maybe we will wait until the next World Junior Championships.

[adsco]

Canadians...Go fig.

No disrespect to you - you state what ever you want; but you will never see a Canadian sit down for another Country's National Anthem - well American's will sit down or even boo at another Country's National Anthem.

I've seen it at countless Stock Car races, and Hockey games!

[rams80]

Are you sure they were Hockey fans? Sounds like a soccer game to me!

Just kidding!

Actually the behaviour was unacceptable, and the police should have been called and the guard fired.

The Candain Hockey League should be notified. I believe they would actually do something.

Moncton should lose the Memorial Cup - we'll take take up here in Toronto - we have two good arenas, in the Air Canada Center, and the Richo Colisuim right close - or maybe we will wait until the next World Junior Championships.

And what Q team precisely is located in Toronto?-or did you forget that they rotate hosting among the three leagues?

Anyway, why have it in a place that only cares about the Maple Leafs?

[adsco]

And what Q team precisely is located in Toronto?-or did you forget that they rotate hosting among the three leagues?

Anyway, why have it in a place that only cares about the Maple Leafs?

Because Toronto would make Hockey Canada about 10 times more money than anywhere else!

I guess we will have to wait until Toronto gets the next World Junior Championship to prove it.

In fact, there are many that think if we put ice in the Rogers Center we would sell out all 55,000-60,000 seats to watch Leaf home games or the World Juniors; but this is only based on the fact that the place was almost sold out to watch the Leafs beat Detroit, in a playoffs away game in, 1992 (approx.), on the big screen.

Actually there are 3 Major Jr. Teams in Toronto.

The point is: if the Q can't provide adequate security why should they have the Memorial Cup in the first place?

Toronto supports the Leafs, the Marlies, 3 Major Jr. teams, numerous Provincial A teams, and a whole plethorea of A, AA, AAA, Select and House League Teams.

I just wonder if you are missing the point of the thread?

[ChampionOfSteel]

On Friday February 17th 2006, I drove to Moncton with seven other Moosehead fans from Halifax. We came to support our team along with other groups of Moosehead fans scattered throughout the Moncton Coliseum. Like the Metro Centro in Halifax, they announced prior to the game that spectators acting in an inappropriate manner would be evicted from the Coliseum. However, once the game started it quickly became evident that these rules were not enforced. Moncton players threatened, cursed and spit at the Halifax players from above their bench. Four Moncton fans in particular even started yelling at us as spectators and still, the security and the ushers did nothing but watch. After the first period, one Moosehead fan complained to the usher of this behavior.
During second period though, this behavior actually escalated and by the third period, no actions had been taken against these disrespectful fans despite numerous complaints from Halifax fans. After the third period I approached a security guard who was watching the whole situation and he told me that it was not his job to control the situation. He had not seen anything that was unacceptable. He told me that there was nothing that he could do. It was a hockey game; what should I expect? So I explained to him that I expected to be treated with respect, to have our players be treated with respect. Is it so unfair to go to a game to support your team and expect to actually watch a hockey game? The players are there to represent Halifax and should not be subjected to being spit on. As I was speaking to the security guard who had informed me that his job was not to control the situation, one of the Moncton fans who had been hanging over the Moosehead bench spitting, came over to the security guard and congratulated him on a good game!
As a fan that has been to numerous Quebec Major Junior Hockey games throughout the league, I have never been so appalled by the behavior that I witnessed in Moncton. This year they are hosting the Memorial Cup. Is this the type of behavior that the QMJHL perceives as being acceptable? As fans our complaints were completely disregarded and as hockey players, the boys were subjected to being spit at. In my opinion this is completely unacceptable behavior that should have been addressed during the game. This is not appropriate behavior for a team in the Quebec League, especially for one that is set to host the Memorial Cup this spring.


Sarah

Spitting at someone is an assault here in the United States.

Maybe Canada has a different law.

Now onto the rest of your complaint:

I lift weights and I'm in good physical shape. People don't mess with me. If I cheer for a team that is in the minority, the only folks that have the balls to give me grief are in seating sections way way far away.

I once attended a Dayton Bombers playoff game at ole Hara Arena against the Greensboro Monarchs. At the end of the game the Dayton fans pelted the Monarch players with their beer. I was not one of them because I refuse to drink alcohol at sporting events. I was half-smiling the whole time during the beer dumping/and disgusted with Dayton's inability to win advance. Kirk-the-jerk (former Dayton radio celebrity Steve Kirk) was the PA announcer and encouraging everyone to have some class.

What a way to end the season. The Monarchs players were relishing the beer being splattered on them. It was also game 5 of a best-of-five series.

The only problem I see in your complaint is spitting. That would piss me off. The rest is totally expected and somewhat entertaining.

This is pro minor league hockey at its finest. I expect a fight in the stands among the fans especially on biker night so I don't bring youngsters with me. I'm sensitive to the fact when fans are gradually becoming unruly. When I see something escalating near me, I head for the snack bar before the players/coaches/usher charge some fan or vice versa.

[F_CSM]

My take on it is if everyone was jawing at eachother and everyone was cool with what was going on then yes, that is ok and somewhat amusing. What I found disturbing from the original post was the security guard/usher's response (or lack of a response). When a paying customer lodges a complaint, something should be done about it.

[Shootmaster_44]

To be quite honest, this situation seems a little tame compared to what happened the other night in Moose Jaw. Apparently some of the fans near the tunnel to the dressing room had been laying in pretty thick on the Wheat Kings. As the players left the ice after the third period they proceeded to throw water bottles, dump beer and pop on the Wheat Kings and throw other garbage at them. A few Wheat Kings players had enough and punched one of the offenders and it erupted into a small brawl between the fans and the Wheaties. It took the referees, some of the Wheaties not involved and a couple of Moose Jaw police officers to end the melee. Apparently, the WHL has fined the Warriors for inadequate security and if there are more games at the Crushed Can this season, I believe the Warriors have to have their security plans approved by the WHL before the game can take place.

As far as moving the Memorial Cup away from Moncton, I don't think that would solve anything. Basically, what the Wildcats need to do is keep a closer eye on the fans and eject them if problems occur. For the Memorial Cup, I believe the CHL and Moncton Coliseum set up security and whatnot, not the Wildcats who would do that during the QMJHL season. So I figure things will go off without a hitch. Besides in light of the events in Moose Jaw, I figure the CHL will force Moncton to have better security on hand in case something like the other night happens in Moncton. I think you will see the overreaction that the NBA layed down after the Ron Artess brawl occur during CHLwide events.

If the QMJHL were to do anything to the Wildcats over this situation, I figure they should take the lead from FIFA. Whenever there is a major fan disturbance in international soccer games, FIFA forces that country to hold the next match in an empty stadium. If the Q were to do that to the Wildcats for one game, I figure things would definitely change.

[ERAY]

First let me state that I do not agree with the spitting and that this does not excuse that Fans behaviour ,the usher should have a least spoken to the Fan ... however I want to bring to your attention the rudeness of your very own Hfx fans, This was the first time I had attended an away game in the Q going to watch the Wildcats play in Hfx on the 11th of April and I could not beleive the way the fans treated us .. From the moment we took our seats I could see that people were staring at us when Moncton was leading 2-0 never once did I make a comment to a Hfx fan but strictly cheering for My team .. when Hfx did score the fan got right in our Face Screaming TAKE THAT!! , another fan walked past us and said "What a bunch of Losers".. When the wildcats were going off the ice for intermission the Hfx fans were leaning of the glass yelling at our players.... Even though Moncton Lost that game I am glad we Won the Series

[HeadFirst]

No disrespect to you - you state what ever you want; but you will never see a Canadian sit down for another Country's National Anthem - well American's will sit down or even boo at another Country's National Anthem.

I've seen it at countless Stock Car races, and Hockey games!

I will most certainly not defend the outrageously deplorable behavior of my fellow countrymen in the United States as it pertains to the treatment that all too many of them afford in the direction of other sovereign nations, but I will absolutely contend the assertion that Canadians hold a monopoly on diplomatic respect. I have witnessed far too many sanctimonious Canadians sitting or, worse, booing the U.S. national anthem at hockey and baseball games to believe for a bloody moment that Canadians are, in truth, all that much different from Americans.

As long as we have Bush and you have Harper, neither country has very much to be proud of.

So endeth this politically fired chronicle.

[Rocket #1]

I once took A trip there. It was a playoff game in the rockets 1st season.
Within like 3 seconds moncton got a fast goal and 1 fan stood up and shouted like mad! Eventualy the rocket came up and scored a bucnh of goals and after the 5th time the fan told me to sit down and shut up. So yeah i agree with you.

[Rocket #1]

Not all cat fans are bad... one actualy gave me a hockey puck :) But some are and theres fans like that in every arena. Some times, i'll be honest, I can be one 2:p (i dont spit or stuff but ill get my 2 cents)

First let me state that I do not agree with the spitting and that this does not excuse that Fans behaviour ,the usher should have a least spoken to the Fan ... however I want to bring to your attention the rudeness of your very own Hfx fans, This was the first time I had attended an away game in the Q going to watch the Wildcats play in Hfx on the 11th of April and I could not beleive the way the fans treated us .. From the moment we took our seats I could see that people were staring at us when Moncton was leading 2-0 never once did I make a comment to a Hfx fan but strictly cheering for My team .. when Hfx did score the fan got right in our Face Screaming TAKE THAT!! , another fan walked past us and said "What a bunch of Losers".. When the wildcats were going off the ice for intermission the Hfx fans were leaning of the glass yelling at our players.... Even though Moncton Lost that game I am glad we Won the Series