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Maine Hockey Coach Pulls Team from Ice Over Safety Concerns
Decision results in forfeit and potential two-year ban for program
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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Joe Robinson, head coach of the Beacons cooperative hockey team in the Portland area, said he pulled his squad off the ice in the first period of Saturday night's game against Old Town-Orono due to safety concerns for players on both teams. The move resulted in a forfeit for the Beacons, ending their season and potentially leading to a two-year ban for the program. Robinson said he would make the same decision again to prioritize player safety, even though he was unaware of the potential consequences.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the difficult decisions coaches sometimes have to make to protect their players, even when it means forfeiting a game or facing disciplinary action. It also raises questions about the fairness of rules that punish an entire program for a coach's judgment call focused on safety.
The details
Robinson said he saw something in the first period that raised safety concerns for both teams. After one of his players was assessed a minor penalty and the Beacons' bench was given a minor, Robinson decided to pull his team off the ice. He noted his team only had 13 players and two goalies. The forfeit means the Beacons will also have to forfeit their final two regular season games, and the program faces a potential two-year ban from varsity competition based on Maine Principals' Association rules.
- On Saturday night, February 11, 2026, during the first period of a game against Old Town-Orono.
- On Wednesday, February 15, 2026, Robinson discussed his decision to pull the team.
The players
Joe Robinson
The 50-year-old head coach of the Beacons cooperative hockey team, which is made up of players from Portland, South Portland, Deering and Waynflete. He is in his 18th season as head coach after previously serving as an assistant at Cape Elizabeth.
Beacons cooperative hockey team
A high school hockey team representing several schools in the Portland area, including Portland, South Portland, Deering and Waynflete.
What they’re saying
“I saw something early on in the first period that I had never seen before, and I realized there were some player safety issues for both teams.”
— Joe Robinson, Head Coach, Beacons cooperative hockey team (Bangor Daily News)
“As a head coach, your number one priority is the health and safety of your players. Sometimes, as the adult in the room, you have to make tough choices. A hockey game is not worth somebody getting hurt. I can't turn a blind eye to something I'm not comfortable with.”
— Joe Robinson, Head Coach, Beacons cooperative hockey team (Bangor Daily News)
What’s next
The athletic directors from the four Portland-area schools are going to file an appeal to the Maine Principals' Association's Interscholastic Management Committee for a waiver to lift the two-year ban on the Beacons program.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the difficult balance coaches must strike between upholding the rules and prioritizing player safety. While the decision to forfeit the game and potentially face a two-year ban was unprecedented, the coach's commitment to protecting his players is commendable and highlights the need for more flexible policies that account for extenuating circumstances focused on safety.
