Hockey P.E.I. suspends player for anti-Asian remark aimed at opponent

Hockey P.E.I. has another incident on its hands involving racial slurs, this time an anti-Asian remark aimed at a player at the Junior B level.

On Wednesday, Hockey P.E.I. issued a two-game suspension to a 19-year-old member of theKensingtonVipers.

It was for comments the player made to a member of the Sherwood Metros duringa Dec. 17 game in Kensington.

"Because this issue is racial in nature and obviously severethis case has moved right to the top," Hockey P.E.I. executive director Connor Cameron told CBC News.

The incident was investigated by Hockey P.E.I.'s Discipline and Ethics Committeeafter the governing body received a written complaint from the victim on Dec. 18.

The investigation included interviews with that playerand his coach, as well as referees and linesmen officiating at the Dec. 17 game. There was alsoa Jan. 3interview byvideoconferencewith the offending player and the team manager of the Kensington Vipers.

"The person who made the mistake was very remorsefulcontinues to be remorseful," said Cameron. "That does not change the impact of his words on the victim."

Tournament remarks still under investigation

The latest incident came just weeks after Hockey P.E.I. was asked to investigate racial incidents during a Novembertournament involving a young Black player from Nova Scotia.

Mark Connors, the player who was targeted by those remarks, has said he thinks Hockey P.E.I.is moving too slowly with its examination of what happened.

Hockey P.E.I.defendsits process, sayingit expects to receive areport later this month from a third-party independent investigator who has been looking into the matter.

"We quite quickly realized that Mark Connors deserved maybe more expertise in the investigation department than we could provide," said Cameron. "So we turned that over to a third partyand we will address that report publicly once it comes to fruition."

Criticism of handling

Oneplayer on the Sherwood Metros isn't happy with how Hockey P.E.I. handled the incident involving histeammate at that game in Kensington.

Keegan Mitchell took mattersinto his own hands the night of the game breakinghis stick over theoffending player's leg and earned himself an automatic two-game suspension.

"I would say it was bad... I take the consequences for that," said Mitchell, who hadearned 52 penalty minutes before the season was halted Dec. 17 due to COVID."But when I look at the other guy's suspension that's the same as mine, it just kind of makes me sick."

The player who was hit did not require medical treatment, according to Mitchell.

An automatic five-game suspension is now the standard penalty for racial slurs, under new rules from Hockey Canada.But it applies only when the offensive remarks are overheard by officials at the game. In the Kensington incident that wasn't the case.

"Comparing the two penalties ishard," said Cameron. "All I can say is I am confident that the committee conducted a thorough investigation and they applied the sanction that they saw fit."

Mitchell took to social media to voice his concerns about Hockey P.E.I.'s decision. As a result of the post, Mitchell is now facing an indefinite suspension due to violating the social media code of conduct set out by the organization, according to Cameron.

Disciplinefor bullying, homophobia

Hockey P.E.I. has handed down other decisions in recent months involving racism and homophobia, Cameron pointed out.Shortly after the fall season began, three boyswere disciplined for the online bullying of a young player. The ringleader in thatcase was suspended from hockeyfor a year.

Two other cases involving homophobic remarks haveresulted in five-game suspensions, according to Cameron.

Sadly, it's something I've become almost accustomed to over the years.- Player on Sherwood team

The SherwoodMetros player who was victimized issued a written statement to CBC News,. through his teammate Mitchell.

In part, it reads:

"This situationis unfortunate. Sadly, it's something I've become almost accustomed to over the years. But I would also like to point out that not all hockey players should be painted with the same brush because it was actually my teammates and other hockey players that proved to me that this behaviour is most definitely not OK.

"I just hope no one else has to experience any discrimination regarding racewhich may be way too much to ask for, but if they ever do, I hope people will stand up to them and hold them accountable."