World junior players, coaches lament N.L.'s ban on post-game handshakes

Alan Letang was taken aback when told of the move.

Solely focused on preparing Canada for the world junior hockey championship an ocean away, the country's head coach hadn't heard one of its provinces had banned post-game handshakes in minor hockey due to a string of altercations.

"Disappointing," said Letang, who played 19 professional seasons in both Europe and North America. "There's a respect and camaraderie in sports. You can go out and compete hard against someone, but at the end of the game it's, 'Great game, great job.'

Respect goes both ways.

"If I was coaching a team and stuff like that happened, you wouldn't put up with it."

Hockey N.L., the sport's amateur governing body in Newfoundland and Labrador, announced last week it is ending the post-game handshake tradition.

Gonzo Bennett, chair of Hockey N.L.'s minor council executive committee, wrote in the memo the organization has had "issues" following games that led to suspensions of both players and coaches.

Instead of handshakes, officials will now direct teams off the ice at the final buzzer. The visiting squad will instead skate by the home team's bench and offer a glove tap or handshake before games.

"It's a level of respect," Canada forward Matthew Poitras, who's played 27 times with the NHL's Boston Bruins this season, said of post-game handshakes. "You don't cause any shenanigans. You take your glove off, you shake hands.

"People get riled up. There's a lot of emotion on the ice, but you should be able to contain yourself in a handshake line."

Sweden head coach Magnus Havelid was also surprised by the move in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Tough to hear ... it's sad," he said. "It's important for coaches of young players to say, 'What happens when you play