To the Editor:

On Feb. 24, 2016, the Wahconah Regional High School hockey team faced Easthampton High School in the last regular season game for both teams. WRHS was gearing up for the Western Mass Division IIIA Tournament while EHS was preparing for next season having been eliminated from playoff contention. But the game would not end without controversy or repercussions.

With just over a minute left in the game, and WRHS leading 8-1 under running time, it was clear some EHS players had nothing else on their minds other than checking our players.

The game finally ended but a senior player from EHS didn't have enough. He skated by our bench and told our coaches something in the nature of he would "slice their f-in throats" and they would die! He then proceeded to circle back toward our bench and physically assaulted any player that came near him. The male referee for the game had been warned about this player and his similar comments during the game, but did nothing to stop it.

This incident then elevated to their whole bench coming in front of ours, meaning 30-plus players forming a large group. Video of the altercation shows the foul-mouthed player and one other from EHS punching our players, but especially one. The punching count rises to seven,without our players ever retaliating, until another player of ours is goaded into defending his teammates with one swing back.

The one-sided brawl is finally broken up by the female referee while the male referee had removed himself from the altercation and passively watched from center ice. Now off the ice, the male referee was visibly upset and alleged assault and battery charges against the foul-mouthed player as he was also struck in the face by him.

The male referee then levies fighting penalties against two of our players, the one being punched numerous times without retaliation and the player that tried to stop the continuous assault by defending his teammates. Since a fighting penalty also carries an additional two games suspension, we would be without two of our important players for the first two rounds of playoffs absent any change in the ruling. Regardless of any penalties assessed against the foul-mouthed player or his teammate, their season and high school hockey careers are over meaning zero repercussions against them for their actions.

Contact is made with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to review the incident and appeal since they are our governing body. But per MIAA rules foundonline, "There is no appeal of a coach or student disqualification." They therefore refused to look at the penalties or overturn them. This results in incredible power to a referee in making calls of this nature with no accountability. Even with clear and convincing evidence on video there is no review by MIAA.

The video is then submitted to the male referee so that he may reconsider his ruling.

After his and the head referee's review, they stand by his decision since they claim "it would set a precedent." How can this be? The video clearly shows the nearly criminal actions of the two EHS players and it also clearly shows the restraint held by the WRHS players. Sooner or later a player has to defend himself. But not changing this arbitrary decision (not reviewing all of the facts) sets a precedent. For an outgoing senior whose high school athletic career is over, what holds that student accountable for actions of this nature impacting another team?

WRHS goes on to compete in the Western Massachusetts Division IIIA Tournament and wins its first game 4-1. But the second game proved more difficult, without their two players, and they lose 4-1. Season over.

So how can WRHS possibly "win" with all of the above? How can we not be angry over the ruling and the actions of others? How do we possibly find positive from what seems so negative?

Here's how:

1. EHS. This is not about the EHS hockey team. It's about two of its players, but especially one of them. The video of the postgame altercation shows most of the EHS players acting in a mature way and not engaging in the actions of two of its players. Kudos to them. Communications received from multiple parents of EHS have apologized about this incident, felt we shouldn't receive any penalty and have also stated the actions of their foul-mouthed player was premeditated. We can be upset with this player or choose to feel sorry for him and his actions. We can only hope he someday learns from the error of his ways and matures as a person.

2. MIAA. This governing body not only refuses to allow appeals of an injustice of this nature, but also has to date failed to respond to the concerns addressed by the parents of one of our suspended players. Our players have learned governing bodies and their rules may not apply to every situation. Just because a rule or procedure is what it is, doesn't mean that shouldn't ever be modified. Our players now know what it feels like to be frustrated by a rule, whether it is right or wrong, and have learned some rules are in need of change/review. Perhaps they will someday be a part of positive change to rules or processes where warranted.

3. Referee. The vast majority of referees perform a wonderful service to athletic youth, but they are people as well and do make mistakes. The clear evidence by the postgame video shows a mistake in judgment by the referee but this doesn't make him a bad person, it just shows he made a mistake, especially for the player of ours that is punched numerous times and never retaliates. Most important is what we do when we realize we have made such a mistake as shown through convincing evidence as in this incident. Our players have learned, contrary to the result here, it is OK to admit a mistake and change a previous decision in order to correct an injustice.

4. Our team. Our players have shown a tight bond within our team. During this incident our players stuck together as teammates and friends. They did not back down from this adversity and acted in a mature way. They didn't leave our players directly involved to stand on their own and watch from afar. Instead they stood shoulder to shoulder and ultimately did their best to support and defend each other.

5. Playoffs. With this injustice our team didn't quit, hang their heads or give up. Instead they persevered to the best of their ability. Younger teammates did their best to fill the void of two of our important players. It didn't quite work out the way we wanted but nobody can say we didn't give it our all.

6. Responsibility for actions. Our two suspended players were forever stripped of their last opportunity to participate in playoffs in their high school hockey career. But the weight of that decision rests more heavily on the shoulders of the foul-mouthed opposing player, MIAA and the referee. They have to take responsibility for their actions or failure to act. However, our players are not without accountability. They also have to review their actions and consider how things could have been different.

Regardless of where the weight is placed, our players now have first-hand knowledge of the importance of calculating one's every move.

Sports are a wonderful teacher of life. Many of the lessons learned through athletics transfer to our adult lives. How do we react when dealt with adversity? What do we do when a teammate, friend, family member or co-worker needs our help? What do we do when a decision is a mistake in judgment? How do we question authority in a professional way? How do we move on when the result isn't to our liking?

The answers can be debated for a long time. But regardless, WRHS hockey has "won" in the season-ending loss.

Thomas W. Rumbolt
North Adams, Mass.

Rumbolt is a parent of two members of the Wahconah team who were not involved in the incident.

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