Elliott Pap, CanWest News Service
Published: Friday, February 02, 2007
VANCOUVER - It all began, simply enough, in a letter from a hockey fan decrying the purple language used by hockey players and coaches.
With so many close-ups on TV, even someone possessing poor lip-reading skills could make out the F-bombs being dropped in rinks around the league.
The subject cried out for a little investigative work and the questions were simple. Is there too much swearing in hockey? Could anything be done about it?
"Of course, there is too much swearing," Canucks defenceman Mattias Ohlund said. "Hockey is an emotional game. Guys are jacked up and, at times, you get upset. It doesn't matter if you play in Sweden, the NHL, the East Coast League or in a beer league, swearing is just part of the mentality of the game."
But does it have to be so frequent? Children may be watching and listening.
"I have three kids and I don't swear at home," said Canucks winger Matt Cooke, a former Windsor Spitfire. "The rink is a totally different atmosphere. I had a lip-reading experience this year when I scored the overtime winner against Edmonton. The camera was right on me and I was so happy I said, 'Bleeping rights, boys!' coming into the pile. You could see it plain as day.
"Thank God my five-year-old can't read lips, but my 13-year-old knew what I was saying. She just told me, 'Dad, you know everyone is watching what you say.'"
San Jose Sharks forward Mike Grier agreed there is far too much swearing in hockey.
"It's grown men in the heat of the moment and I don't know if anything can be done about it," Grier said. "Sometimes, you feel better if you kind of let out some profanity."
Sharks coach Ron Wilson of Windsor is an educated man. He can articulate with the best of them. Alas, even he admits to using the odd naughty word.
PART OF THE GAME
FULL STORY
Published: Friday, February 02, 2007
VANCOUVER - It all began, simply enough, in a letter from a hockey fan decrying the purple language used by hockey players and coaches.
With so many close-ups on TV, even someone possessing poor lip-reading skills could make out the F-bombs being dropped in rinks around the league.
The subject cried out for a little investigative work and the questions were simple. Is there too much swearing in hockey? Could anything be done about it?
"Of course, there is too much swearing," Canucks defenceman Mattias Ohlund said. "Hockey is an emotional game. Guys are jacked up and, at times, you get upset. It doesn't matter if you play in Sweden, the NHL, the East Coast League or in a beer league, swearing is just part of the mentality of the game."
But does it have to be so frequent? Children may be watching and listening.
"I have three kids and I don't swear at home," said Canucks winger Matt Cooke, a former Windsor Spitfire. "The rink is a totally different atmosphere. I had a lip-reading experience this year when I scored the overtime winner against Edmonton. The camera was right on me and I was so happy I said, 'Bleeping rights, boys!' coming into the pile. You could see it plain as day.
"Thank God my five-year-old can't read lips, but my 13-year-old knew what I was saying. She just told me, 'Dad, you know everyone is watching what you say.'"
San Jose Sharks forward Mike Grier agreed there is far too much swearing in hockey.
"It's grown men in the heat of the moment and I don't know if anything can be done about it," Grier said. "Sometimes, you feel better if you kind of let out some profanity."
Sharks coach Ron Wilson of Windsor is an educated man. He can articulate with the best of them. Alas, even he admits to using the odd naughty word.
PART OF THE GAME
FULL STORY