The hockey players have been forbidden to shake hands in Canada. The reason is known

In the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, hockey players have been prohibited from partaking in handshakes after games, as reported by ESPN.

This decision was made against the backdrop of a series of scandals within Canada's amateur hockey community, leading to the suspension of players and coaches. Notably, in November 2023, a hockey coach in the province of Nova Scotia was accused of assaulting a referee during a youth game.

The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association recommends referees in lower leagues to wear green armbands due to persistent conflicts between coaches, players, and their parents. This measure is taken in the hope that "parents and coaches will think twice before verbally insulting referees."

Conversely, Newfoundland and Labrador have prohibited the traditional post-game handshake in lower leagues. Instead, players from the visiting team may approach the home team's bench before the game to shake hands or don gloves. Immediately after the game, the referee directs the hockey players to the dressing room.