It's one thing for a 15-year-old kid keeping his head up for opposing players who want a piece of him, but when it's his own coach laying the lumber, it's time to get the law involved.
That's what happened, if published allegations are correct, in a bizarre incident on Jan. 12 in Toronto.
Picture this, if you can: coach is on the ice with his AAA minor midget team during practice, and the coach becomes physically aggressive and cross-checks two of his players - hard.
The incident was enough of a shock to parents that they immediately ordered their kids off the ice and into the safety of the dressing room.
But the action didn't stop there. The coach left the ice, stormed into the change room to continue arguing with players and allegedly threw a helmet, striking one of the kids.
It certainly appears this guy is a candidate to be the new poster-child for anger management counseling.
Witnesses called police, meaning the temperamental coach may have bigger issues than who should play center in the next game.
Brian Tracey, 46, will be up against three counts of assault with a weapon and is currently on suspension from the league.
Good riddance.
Minor midget is a turning-point year for these kids, with many showcasing themselves for the Major Junior draft.
For others, it often marks the end of their minor hockey careers.
This coach was in a position of power. At least in theory, he was the guy in control.
And then he lost control.
If the allegations are proven correct, his coaching days will be over and he could find himself behind bars.
Minor hockey, and the kids in particular, deserve a safe and rewarding atmosphere free of this kind of crap.
A stiff penalty for this guy would go a long way to ensuring that.