Young hockey player/adult linesman altercation a case of bullying?

Last week, it was announced that an adult hockey official was charged for assault in connection to a post-game incident earlier this season.

Reports in the Woodstock-based newspaper, the Bugle-Observer, and on CJ 104 radio stated that James Langille was charged with one count of assault dating back to an altercation following a high school hockey game in Florenceville-Bristol on December 7, 2011.

Langille was working as a linesman in the contest between the Carleton North High School Stars and Woodstock High School DQ Thunder. Witnesses from the WHS team say that Langille was making rude comments directed at Woodstock's bench throughout the game.

CNHS and WHS are already bitter rivals, so was Langille's two cents worth really needed?

During the third period, Craig Cluff, a member of the Woodstock team, was sent to the penalty box and assessed a two-minute minor penalty for crosschecking. Cluff and Langille are alleged to have exchanged words around that time.

Craig Cluff

At the game's conclusion, both teams shook hands. Nothing out of the ordinary there. Or was there?

Langille was allegedly waiting by the door where the WHS squad would exit the ice surface. Traditionally, referees leave the ice in a separate area, away from any players.

Langille allegedly followed the WHS team off the ice, shoving his way through players and seeking out Cluff. He is then said to have grabbed onto Cluff's face mask on his helmet.

Cluff is believed to have suffered minor head injuries as a result of the incident.

Cluff was suspended for ten games for his involvement in the melee. The decision by the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association (NBIAA) to suspend Cluff was controversial. Concerned citizens voiced opinions in letters to the editor of local newspapers. Basically, the feedback sent the message that Cluff was targeted and bullied by Langille and was penalized for it with the ten-game suspension.

Cluff's punishment--sitting out for ten games--is actually minor. Abuse of an official could lead to a suspension of up to one year. That would mean that Cluff, a 17-year-old, grade twelve student at WHS, would never be able to play high school hockey again.

Whether or not Cluff should have been sidelined for ten games is questionable.

The Shiretown Blogger's attempts to get Cluff's feedback went unsuccessful.

Logan Schofield, the WHS DQ Thunder's assistant coach, disagreed with the NBIAA's decision to suspend Cluff.

"Craig should never have been suspended," Schofield told The Shiretown Blogger via Facebook.

Schofield is no stranger to the world of hockey officiating, serving as an official at many minor hockey games in his hometown of Woodstock. Schofield was able to point out many faults in Langille's behavior as an on-ice official, and felt that Langille had targeted Cluff.

"As a referee, he did a lot of things wrong," Schofield explained. "He should have still been on the ice. Players were still shaking hands."

"[Officials] can't go off the ice [with] players. He should never have been in the situation for anything to happen. So in my mind, [it] shows he was going after Craig."

Schofield added that whether the incident is a case of bullying is debatable.

"Unless every case of assault is bullying, I don't think this is bullying," Schofield said. "To me, this [was] a one-time thing. If the two of them have had issues in the past, then maybe."

"To me, 'bullying' would have to be more than a one-time thing."

As is the case with most issues, one must find the facts before forming their own opinion. I will leave it up to you, the readers, to decide whether you feel it is a case of bullying.

Note: The Blogger Speaks is traditionally a way for the blogger to express opinions and feelings about certain issues. However, I made every effort to leave my own personal opinion out of the story. This story is one that I feel had to be told in its entirety, without reflecting my thoughts or feelings.