About 

Puck Off to Bullying was founded to address a critical and ongoing need in minor hockey: the creation of safer, more accountable environments through stronger leadership, governance, and policy. With over 15 years of experience in mental health counseling, teaching, youth advocacy, and nonprofit governance—including work within Indigenous communities and minor hockey organizations—I have seen firsthand how bullying, maltreatment, and gaps in leadership affect player well-being, performance, and retention. ​Research—and lived experience—make one thing clear: bullying cannot be entirely eradicated. Psychologically and sociologically, humans are hardwired to form hierarchies and act in ways that impact sports environments negatively. But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. While we may never stop bullying altogether, we can tell it to “Get the Puck Outta Here” by creating systems and cultures that mitigate its impact. This includes proper training for minor hockey boards and their membership to make informed decisions with their youth at the core.

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Puck Off to Bullying is built on the belief that real change starts at the top—with boards, coaches, and parents who commit to fostering environments where every player, coach and parent feels respected and supported. Our work focuses on equipping leaders to prioritize psychological safety, implement effective governance, and model the behaviors that create lasting positive change. Together, we can shift hockey culture towards the winning formula of accountability and well-being—on and off the ice.

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Though I write we it has been a 3 year journey of research, writing and applying my experiences to create POB. Whether it was 2 years of National finals as an "elite" soccer player (though they never called it that back in the day), a hockey playing old school dad who was also my coach, my work as a teacher and therapeutic counselor in schools, clinical counseling or the lived experiences with bullying in minor hockey that was the catalyst for this...ultimately,  my hope is that this turns into a a collective we.  Keeping solutions simple and real means gathering a lot of voices, and evidence-based practices.  By sharing knowledge, best practices and knowledge we can build on what I started to  make POB a hub for help, and a way to tell maltreatment and bullying to get the puck outtahere.                                             

Lindy Fors, MEd, MACP, R.C.P.