By Tim Skuce and Wendy MacGregor
December 2024

What you need to know

Onside is a grassroots research project that will investigate how ice hockey impacts the experiences and identities of Under-13 hockey players. The research will explore established hockey behavioural norms and youth understandings of fair play, leadership, inclusivity, racism, sexism, stoicism, class, violence, etc.

Why this research is important

Many youths from coast to coast to coast are inspired to participate in the game of hockey—a game that has become woven into the Canadian fabric. Idyllic images of grassroots hockey often portray children lost in the play of the to-and-fro motion of the game. It is often in and through ice hockey where participants’ identities are significantly influenced and where they learn and enact notions of fair play, hard work, sportsmanship, commitment, determination, personal and physical well-being, teamwork, the pursuit of excellence, etc. Moreover, the game of hockey aims to embrace inclusivity, bringing participants together regardless of a myriad of ‘differences,’ be it age, gender, colour, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, race, socio-economic status, language, or religion. However, several high-profile media stories which have highlighted alleged incidents of sexual assault, racism, homophobia and violence in Canadian ice hockey has resulted in increased awareness and discussion about hockey culture.

Further, young boys and men are often socialized into traditional hegemonic masculine ideals (referred to as “hegemonic masculinity” in scholarly literature). To cultivate and establish that athletes embrace certain masculine ideals, they are frequently subjected to policing tactics that ensure compliance, adoption and the enactment of preferred masculine traits. For example, boys and men are often encouraged either implicitly or explicitly to remain stoic, to suppress and/or deny uncomfortable feelings that might challenge practices that have normalized stoicism and other undesirable characteristics. Stories regarding the culture of hockey has resulted in games coming under intense public scrutiny.

How the research will be conducted

1. A graduate-student athlete mentor (GAM) will be assigned to a U13 team for an entire season, one in Calgary, Alberta, and a second in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2. The GAM will conduct two voluntary group discussions per month (approximately 20 minutes each) with athlete participants in their dressing room or other safe spaces, maintaining a controlled, welcoming environment. These conversations will be audio-recorded and transcribed (with permission from participants and guardians). In part, the intent of these conversations is to encourage participants to identify their feelings and emotions that emerge within this sporting context, how those feelings impact them, and their behaviours within this sporting context and beyond.
3. The findings from the discussions will be used to inspire future conversations.
4. At the end of the season, the research conclusions will be presented to the team and the local hockey community.
5. When research findings are processed and analyzed, they will be shared in journal articles and presented at professional conferences.

How this research can be used

This research will provide insight into a better understanding of the youth hockey experience, and we anticipate that this knowledge will promote the development of new policies and approaches that assist in (re) imagining and (re) enacting certain elements of the culture of hockey. Specifically, developing tools and policies to assist athletes in effectively and positively dealing with emotional experiences. For example, ways to avoid physical retaliation resulting from verbal provocation.

About the Researchers

Tim Skuce, PhD

Skucet@brandonu.ca

Dr. Tim Skuce is an associate professor of Social Studies Education in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University.

Keywords

• (re) imagining
• hockey culture
• identity
• masculinity

Editor: Christiane Ramsey

Research at Brandon University follows comprehensive policies designed to safeguard ethics, to ensure academic integrity, to protect human and animal welfare and to prevent conflicts of interest.