ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Hockey players in Newfoundland and Labrador will once again be lining up to shake hands after their games.
Hockey NL, the governing body for amateur hockey in the province, has reversed a controversial decision to end the custom because it sometimes led to altercations.
The association says in a post to its website today that its decision to reinstate post-game handshakes was made after it evaluated the impacts of the handshake ban and the discussions it sparked.
The post says officials can still prohibit handshakes “when required.”
Hockey NL announced the ban last month, citing “issues” during end-of-game handshakes that had led to suspensions for some coaches and players.
It later revised its stance slightly, saying the handshake could take place at the beginning of games and the post-game ban would only apply to teams with male players between the ages of nine and 17.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2024.
