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A hockey moment this crowd won’t soon forget
VERNON – A peewee hockey player brought spectators out of their seats last weekend cheering, even crying, not because of his moves in the game, but because he stood against the rest of his own team and showed them something about courage and sportsmanship.
Matthew Marotta, 12, and his Prince George Cougars lost a game at Vernon's Classic tournament on a disputed goal. His teammates followed his coaches' angry reaction and headed straight for the dressing room, foregoing the custom of kneeling at their own blue line before shaking hands with opponents. Against his coach's insistence—Marotta alone skated out to the blue line and took a knee.
Tia Heslop, team manager for the opposing Nanaimo Clippers, says she broke down in tears at the sight.
“All the fans were screaming and cheering and crying for his bravery, his respect for the game, and the true sportsmanship he was showing. We were all standing on our feet cheering for him,” she says. “That’s how you wrap up the game, he knew that. Even when he was being called off the ice by his coach…. He did the right thing, and did what his whole team should have done.”
The Nanaimo team skated over and encircled the lone Marotta, patting his head, the crowd cheering for him as he alone represented his team. Shocked spectators and parents turned quickly to social media to share the story. In one Facebook post liked 755 times and shared almost 1,600 times, one parent says she could attend 1,000 more hockey games and never see anything like it again.
“In the end, these coaches are here to be leaders for the boys,” Heslop says. “As coaches, parents and players, we’ve all learned from him and will follow suit. His parents should be very proud.”
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.
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36 responses
I got goose bump & tears when I read this about the 12 year old, He did the right thing. Bless his heart.
As a former coach of minor hockey I am so very proud of this young man. He showed what the game should be about and unfortunately his coach had the opportunity to teach the team about gracious losing. Instead he showed them how to be poor sports. I hope he learns from this. Unfortunately it is sometimes the adults that forget it is only a game, and they are not in the NHL.
Some NHL’ers should take a page…eh!
Wonderful story
brought tears to my eyes just reviewing. I as a coach , have been where that young MAN was. we lost, but still we played the game and were proud to be in the rink with a better team, congratulating them for their win. Life happens, we gotta roll it or stop it. This young MAN did the right thing. AWESOME
What a brave boy of outstanding integrity.This story brought tears to my eyes.I love the way the crowd supported him.
beautiful
I nominate this as the Story of the Year. We often hear that our youth will lead us in the future. It’s a blessing to see leaders like Matthew give us a glimpse into the future.
Excellent Story about a young man and his love and respect for his own Hockey League so much that he stood his groundand show respect where it was due – Wow surprised I have not seen this awesome story before.To the parents of this young man “Well Done” He showed them “It’s not about the young man in the game that he loves, it’s about respect and love in the YOUNG MANplaying that game”Well done Sir I applaud you!
What so often happens is the emphasis is on winning and the development of the youth is forgotten.Who’s to blame…coaches and their egos.They should realize that most times in minor hockey…no one remembers the coach’s name…they remember the team.A coach of any sport is important…he is supposed to be a role model..it’s no different than being a teacher.This coach should apologize to his team and the opposing team, hopefully he learned a lesson from a young athlete.
We do havegreat young people!
Inspirational.He must have good parents!
Jim Baldwin Jim, good point, and I agree with your thoughts, it can be taught, but overall, how many parents instill good sportsmanship in their kids. I hope majority, as my wife and I did in our son in his minor sports career. Good point on coaches too there buddy.
How the game used to be played!
what a wonderful young man! his parents have taught him how to be a good sport and a great man. he will go far! :D
Glad to see that someone has sportsmanship, The coach should be embarrassed and resign for his lack of respect for the team, his players, and the sport itself.
12 years old… great kid.
Way to go Matthew! You put ‘HONOUR’ back into the sport of playing the game.
is there a video of this anywhere?>?
A very proud moment for his parents.
such an awesome story! please take a min and give a quick read!
Any parent would be so proud! Well done! It’s good to see a young person learn to stand up for what’s right early in life. And to stand against the unjust. I hope I see more of this young man in the future.
the coaches should be suspended for setting a bad example!
Love this boy…..
you can’t teach that type of sportsmanship and respect/.
wow-that’s wonderful- sometimes we forget that hockey is more than just a game- but an avenue to teach our children how to be great human beings.
Well done
Another great example of sportsmanship and courage. Matthewstood tall against the potential ridicule from his coach and other players. Irrespective, his conviction to proudly stand up for a tradition in hockey and other sports – the shaking hands at the end of a game. I congratulate Matthew for your courage and never lose your conviction.Coaching is not about your personal gratification (win/loss records). The art of being a great coach is about all of the teaching moments you have with your players. Great coaches know how you frame in the outcome (win or loss) and teach each players how to react to the outcome that makes each player a better person and player.
Now this is a young man I’d like to meet!Well done.Hope his coaches and team can respect him for this.
We can all learn a lesson from this hockey player!The road is never easy to do the right thing but this kid has it in his heart and head.Would be proud to have this player on our hockey team.
Children like this, some leaders can learn from.
Great story – with so much hockey controversy in Manitoba, it’s nice to see the kids understand even sometimes when the adults don’t!
Impressive sport attitude young man to have the presence of mind to follow his convictions.
awesome
awesome
once again it takes a child to lead them!Well done young man.