When you’re talking about a minor hockey game between 13 year-old children, you don’t expect to hear an anecdote about two parents getting into a brawl in the bleachers.

But that is what happened over the weekend in West Vancouver when police were called to the Hollyburn Country Club after a flight allegedly broke out between parents in the arena’s viewing area.

West Vancouver Police issued a statement earlier this week after breaking up an altercation between a 45 year-old West Vancouver man and a 67 year-old Langley man during a game between Bantam A1 teams Hollyburn Huskies and Semiahmoo Ravens.

“Police were advised an argument broke out between two males watching the game and became physical when one male grabbed the other,” police say.

Other spectators tried to intervene and all parties were separated, leaving the Langley man with minor bruising and soreness. Police say an investigation is underway and they are recommending charges against the West Vancouver man. He has been issued a Promise To Appear at North Vancouver Provincial Court on May 6.

Brawls and altercations between parents of minor league hockey players is becoming all too common. Earlier this year, Vancity Buzz reporter Trevor Dueck experienced first-hand the side-line drama that occurs in minor hockey.

He reported a conversation with several hockey moms about briberies, sexual favours, lies and classism all occurring off the ice.

“One lady told me about how a former coach got busted with another hockey mom in the back of his truck in the parking lot. Apparently this mom was providing the creepy coach with ‘sexual favours’ in return for her son getting extra playing time. That coach was removed, but according to ‘the moms’, he is still coaching in another jurisdiction.”

What was supposed to be Canada’s greatest pastime has morphed into a politically-charged, dog-eat-dog sport amongst ambitious competitors and their parents. If you know a parent who’s fallen into the pit of hockey drama, remind them what the point of the game is – to have fun.