Jun 15

Street hockey illegal? Maybe not for long

Boys from the Yonge Eglinton neighbourhood mix it up with a little street hockey. A city committee is looking at dropping an unenforced city bylaw that prohibits playing ball games on the street.

Boys from the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood mix it up with a little street hockey. A city committee is looking at dropping an unenforced city bylaw that prohibits playing ball games on the street.

Tuesday evening, five teens were playing on a quiet, leafy street northeast of Yonge St. and Davisville Rd.

“We play here pretty often in the summer — it’s never a problem,” said Christian Iriotakis, 13. A few cars passed, and each time the boys quickly moved the goalpost out of the way; most drivers smiled and waved. Christian and friend Owen Singer, also 13, just recently learned street hockey was illegal.

“No, I don’t think it’s going to stop us,” Owen said.

Out with them was school Trustee Josh Matlow. “We need to be reasonable about what we decide to criminalize in our society,” he said as he hit a green ball into the net. “Canada’s national sport being played out in the city is part of our fabric and culture. Why is this illegal?”

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