Ice hockey has a major culture problem. 

From bullying to sexual assault, the sport is littered with issues that most participants of the sport fail to recognize.

Growing up on the ice rink, I thought I would always love the game of hockey and dreamed of playing in the National Hockey League.

When I went to games in San José to watch the San José Sharks, I always wanted to play like Patrick Marleau because of his confident and quiet demeanor.

As I grew up, I began hating everything about hockey because of my negative experiences within the sport.

I only recently got back into watching and playing it.

I played hockey from the age of 3 until I entered high school. After multiple injuries, I decided to quit and pursue swimming.

During those 10 years of playing hockey, I had several experiences that would be deemed as verbal or physical assault from both teammates and coaches. I had to brush it off after being told to “man up” or “get over it.”

Being a goal-scorer who wasn’t as violent as other players, I got berated with comments from coaches telling me to be aggressive, even if we won games 10-0.

So when I heard that Kevin Whitmer, former San José Jr. Sharks coach, was sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault, I wasn’t suprised in the slightest.

In April 2021, Whitmer allegedly told a child to sit on his lap, wrapped his hands around the player’s waist, and gave chest and abdominal massages that escalated to sexual acts while alone in the locker room, according to a Dec. 9, 2025 San José Inside article.

He pleaded no contest to 12 felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old, to the sexual abuse of five different boys and to one felony count for possesion of child pornography, the same article reads.

Corrupted coaches like these are littered throughout the sport, applauding and urging children to be physically aggressive. 

It contributes to hockey culture becoming hostile.

Another well-known hockey scandal involves five former members of the 2018 Hockey Canada junior team who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman which led to a seven-year-long judiciary process, according to a July 24, 2025 The Guardian article.

The five players were ultimately acquitted on all counts in July of 2025. However, the NHL stated the men remain ineligible to play pending a review of the judge’s findings, according to a July 24, 2025 Daily Faceoff article.

Hockey culture has gotten so bad that almost every time I enter a locker room I overhear racial and homophobic slurs. 

It makes me question the morality of the sport.

When I switched to swimming, it was a breath of fresh air for me, with supportive teammates and coaches uplifting me rather than dragging me down. 

My swim coaches encouraged me to do well in the classroom and attend college, something that was made fun of with my previous hockey coaches.

Most NHL players began their careers without attending college, according to a Feb. 5 U.S. News article.

In hockey, if you want to play professionally you likely need to leave home around 16 and move to Canada to play in the minor leagues.

It’s the quickest way to be drafted into the NHL as the majority of draftees are from those leagues, according to a June 29, 2024 Canadian Hockey League article.

This highlights another major problem with the sport of hockey.

Leaving school and prioritizing a sport that promotes aggression is the core issue leading hockey players to contribute to a terrible culture which raises them to be disrespectful, racist and homophobic.

In order to fundamentally change hockey we have to prioritize education and respect. We have to get rid of corrupted coaches and make hockey a safe experience for all players and fans.

If we teach our children these core values, we can change hockey culture for the better.