STATEMENT FROM THE ICE HOCKEY AUSTRALIA BOARD
Published Mon 01 Aug 2022
STATEMENT FROM THE ICE HOCKEY AUSTRALIA BOARD
RE: Kurt DeFris National Tournament Gold Medal Match 2022
The Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) Board is working with Ice Hockey New South Wales (IHNSW), Ice Hockey Western Australia (IHWA), IHA’s Tournament Director, IHA Referee in Chief, the DeFris National Tournament Match Officials and other relevant parties to investigate on-ice incidents that occurred late in the match DeFris Tournament Gold Medal Match on Sunday.
There is no place for violence of this nature, nor verbal abuse towards officials and game participants in our underage tournaments. The behaviour of such kind is disgraceful and unacceptable and IHA strongly condemns it, and will not tolerate it. IHA National Underage Tournaments should be a safe and respectful environment for all participants and spectators.
IHA is fully aware of the seriousness of events that transpired between players and team officials from both competing teams, and is providing the appropriate level of support to its people as the matter is
investigated.
As an organisation and community, we must live up to our values, including:
- The importance of acting with honesty and INTEGRITY at all times
- Provide a positive ice hockey experience in a SAFE, sportsmanlike environment, and
- Promote physical and mental HEALTH AND WELLBEING through ice hockey, And it is up to us to call out dangerous and anti-social behaviour when it occurs.
Ice Hockey Australia will make no further statement or comment until a comprehensive investigation of the identified behaviours is complete.
