A collaboration between the Armstrong School District, Armstrong County Commissioners, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, Belmont Sports Complex and the Armstrong River Hawks hockey team has resulted in steps being taken to prevent a repeat of the verbal abuse suffered on Oct. 28 by a female Mars ice hockey goalie.

Armstrong Junior-Senior High School students in the stands at the sports complex in Kittanning, which is the River Hawks' home ice, could be heard chanting derogatory and sexually explicit epithets at the goalie as she stood in the net.

A news release from the Armstrong County Commissioners on Thursday said the following action was taken as a result of the disturbing event:

* Armstrong students in grades seven through 12 are prohibited from attending any River Hawks varsity or middle school hockey games for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

* Siblings of players may attend, but must sit with a parent or guardian.

* Any spectator removed from the Belmont Sports Complex by a game official, security or staff will be prohibited from re-entering the facility for the remainder of the hockey and skating season.

* Visitors to the Belmont Sports Complex are reminded that alcohol and/or tailgating is prohibited on the property before or during games.

The news release estimated that 50 to 60 students were in the fan section of the stands, which is beside the goal crease, during the incident.

“This type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at our county facility,” the county commissioners said in the news release.

The commissioners offered a public apology to the goalie, who they said “should not have been exposed to this type of behavior in the bleachers.”

The commissioners said $150,000 was recently spent to add a female locker room at the sports complex “in support of female hockey.”

The news release said the collaborating organizations reviewed security and staff protocols at the rink on Oct. 28 before coming up with the measures above.

“We want our student athletes and our visitors to feel safe,” the release said.

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