Hockey fans ejected after what they yelled at a player
Every time we like to think that sports is the one place where racism doesn’t exist, something like Saturday night’s incident at the Blackhawks/Capitals game.
Four Chicago fans were ejected after making racially charged comments directed at Washington forward Devante Smith-Pelly, one of fewer than 30 black players in the NHL.
https://twitter.com/Sergio_R81/status/965108011529248768
Here's an AP photo of Devante Smith-Pelly and the fans in question. pic.twitter.com/9RYjTdZQSW
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 18, 2018
Smith-Pelly was sitting in the penalty box after a fight with Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy when some fans began chanting “basketball, basketball, basketball,” suggesting that he should be playing that sport instead of hockey.
Caps coach Barry Trotz was disgusted by what his player had to deal with.
“There is absolutely no place in the game of hockey or our country for racism,” Trotz said. “I think it’s disgusting. There’s no place for it. Athletes in our country don’t deserve that. It just shows ignorance.”
The Blackhawks issued a statement, apologizing to Smith-Pelly and the Capitals.
"… The fans were immediately removed and we apologize to Smith-Pelly and the Washington Capitals organization. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for everyone who attends out games and these actions will never be tolerated." (2/2)
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 18, 2018
Saturday’s incident came during the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” month, designed to use the game “to drive social change and foster more inclusive communities.”
There are currently fewer than 30 black players in league, and Smith-Pelly has dealt with overt racism since he started playing hockey.
In an interview last year with the Toronto Star, he talked about participating in a rookie tournament and hearing a fan yell, “Go back to playing basketball.”
“I can’t go to anyone on my team and have them understand really how it is to be in my shoes,” Smith-Pelly said. “Just because I’m a professional hockey player; they just don’t understand. So it’s really lonely in that sense. You don’t really have anyone.”
Last month, the NHL celebrated the 60th anniversary of Boston’s Willie O’Ree breaking the color barrier.
Thank you Willie O’Ree. Without you myself and many others would not be where we are today #HockeyIsForEveryone pic.twitter.com/8hqvcmU8Vt
— Devante Smith-Pelly (@smithpelly23) January 18, 2018
The Blackhawks won the game 7-1, but the NHL suffered an even bigger loss of dignity.
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