Hockey organization issues discipline to Armstrong club after vulgar chants directed at female goalie

Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League officials have announced disciplinary measures as a result of their investigation into an incident at a game between Armstrong and Mars Area high schools.

Armstrong students were chanting vulgarities at Mars’ female goalie Oct. 28 at the Belmont Ice Arena near Kittanning. It’s the Armstrong club’s home ice.

PIHL issued the following consequences to those actions Thursday:

• Armstrong High School students are not permitted to attend River Hawk hockey games, and the team will be on probation for the remainder of the 2021-22 season including playoffs.

• Siblings of varsity players will continue to be permitted to attend games only if they enter and sit with a parent or guardian during games.

• Armstrong High School will provide a faculty member or administrator to attend each home and away varsity hockey game to serve as a parent/student/spectator monitor.

The monitor shall address inappropriate spectator behavior before the situation escalates to the point it has an impact on the game. They are to call attention to the behavior, inform the on-site security official and ask for the offending spectator(s) to be removed from the rink.

The costs of the monitor’s attendance at the games is to be paid by the Armstrong High School River Hawks hockey club.

• A disciplinary hearing will be held for determination of supplemental disciplinary measures.

When reached Thursday night, PIHL Commissioner John Mucha said the Armstrong students’ actions were “disgusting” and “absolutely more than kids being kids.”

He supports the disciplinary measures.

“This is what the executive committee came up with based off of the information that was provided and talking to everyone involved in the situation,” Mucha said.

Meghan Duggan, Team USA Women’s Hockey Olympian, lent her support to the Mars goalie via Twitter.

“You represent so much more than the hateful words that were directed toward you,” the message said in part. “I stand with you.”

To the Mars goalie who was targeted at a western PA hockey game last week...Every time you take the ice, women & girls all over the hockey community are proud of YOU! You represent so much more than the hateful words that were directed toward you. I stand with you ???????? @NHL @PWHPA

— Meghan Duggan (@mduggan10) November 2, 2021

Messages left with Armstrong School District officials Thursday night had not been returned.