by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
An extended free-for-all ruckus by the Sartell Youth Hockey Squirt C White Team at a motel in River Falls, Wis. Dec. 5 caused frustration and anger on the part of some paying guests – bad enough to cause refunds for some guests and to spur a letter to the editor to the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader.
On Dec. 18, the Newsleader received a letter to the editor from a Wisconsin couple who had stayed in a room on the same floor as the hockey team (see letter on today’s Opinion Page.)
At the time of the incident, the Squirt C team was at a tournament Dec. 4-6 in River Falls, according to the Sartell Youth Hockey Association website.
As always, the Newsleader checks letters to be sure they are written by the people whose names are signed on the letters. The Newsleader also double-checks letters if potentially libelous statements are made in a letter. The newspaper was closed from mid-December to Jan. 4, and the editor became aware of the letter Jan. 4.
On Jan. 6, the editor called the Best Western Hotel in River Falls to determine if the out-of-control behavior of the hockey players did, in fact, occur there. The front-desk clerk, Nikkita Patterson, said it did indeed and that the letter to editor is accurate.
She added that she was working the afternoon, night and post-midnight hours when four hockey teams from different cities were staying at the motel the weekend of Dec. 4. Patterson said it’s true there appeared to be no adults making the Sartell teammates mind, that the adults were in a lounge downstairs while the hockey teams were on the second and third floors. She said the motel staff told the players they could go down to the first floor but they said they preferred to have fun, including in the hallways, on the upper floors.
Some guests were so disgusted by the rude and disrespectful behavior, Patterson said, that the motel gave them refunds.
“It was my worst weekend in the three years I’ve been working here,” said Patterson, referring to the unmanageable situation.
Patterson said later staff succeeded in contacting a coach for the Sartell team, who apologized.
