It's nice how idle NHLers such as Corey Perry show up a Canadian minor hockey practices to thrill the kids and provide a little bit of celebrity coaching. It's an experience everyone wants and cellphone photos will be everywhere.
But I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that minor hockey, Hockey Canada or whomever doesn't insist these NHLers pay for and sit through Speak Out courses before interacting with the kids. Speak Out is required for all team volunteers and has been since the sexual abuse scandals of Graham James, and likely others, finally came to light.
Truth is, most of these NHLers couldn't meet the test of being minor hockey volunteers, particularly when it comes to vocabulary in front of 11-year-olds or their off-ice conduct choices.
By contrast, consider how the minor hockey organization my son has played for treated an idea involving him and his juvenile team teammates.
The coach of a younger team asked juvenile players to attend practices to share skills and mentor the younger kids. Many juveniles - young referees, honour students, youth coaches were among their ranks - were interested and willing. But minor hockey insisted the teens take and pay for the course and submit to a police check before sharing the ice or changerooms with the younger kids.
Needless to say, the teens lost interest after simple volunteerism became so complex and costly.
Did NHLers like Perry submit to a police check? Learn about the Speak Out two in a room policy? Doubt it.
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