Police called after confrontation between parents and teenage ref at peewee hockey game

Burnaby RCMP have confirmed they were asked to police a group of North Vancouver hockey parents after an incident at a game between 11 and 12-year-olds.

On Saturday, parents from the North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association peewee A4 team were involved in an altercation with a 14 or 15-year-old referee during a game against a Burnaby Minor Hockey Association peewee team played at Burnaby Lakes Arena.

According to sources, some parents began verbally abusing the young referee early in the first period. There were also confrontations between parents in the stands.

The referee stopped the game but was confronted by a parent as he left the ice.

A senior refereeing official was called in and the game continued but only after the parents involved were kicked out of the game and banned from attending their children's game the following day at the Burnaby Winter Club.

"Police were contacted on Saturday after an incident. They asked us to come back Sunday to standby to keep the peace," confirmed Burnaby RCMP spokesman John Buis.

Terry Shein of the Burnaby Winter Club told CBC News that only bench staff from the North Vancouver team was allowed to attend the Sunday game. He said the remainder of the parents abided with the ban.

"They dropped their player off, they came and picked up their player," said Shein. "They were very co-operative."

CBC news has reached out to the North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association and the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association for comment.