A L’Île-Perrot, Que., household is denouncing intolerance in hockey after their son was referred to as a racist slur by a Valleyfield participant at a sport final Saturday.
“Clearly when it first occurred, the primary emotion is sheer rage since you attempt to defend your youngsters from going by way of this type of factor,” stated Dwight Chase, the boy’s father.
Aiden Chase, who performs with the L’Île-Perrot Midget A U18 group, was on a excessive when his group beat Valleyfield 3-1 — till a participant referred to as him the N-word.
The infraction was recorded on the sport’s scorecard. The penalty is often a five-game suspension.
“I used to be shocked, principally, and upset. That is why my first response was, to show round and confront the child on the ice,” stated the 16-year-old.
“That opened up my thoughts to how that is and that is one thing that may typically occur.”
A brawl ensued on the ice and L’Île-Perrot assistant coach Jason McCaig was pushed whereas making an attempt to interrupt it up.
WATCH | L’Île-Perrot assistant hockey coach tries to interrupt up battle:
A coach for a midget A group in L’Île-Perrot, Que., was pushed after intervening when a participant from the Valleyfield group referred to as considered one of his gamers a racial slur.
McCaig stated this is not the primary time a Valleyfield participant has uttered a racist slur in opposition to Aiden on the ice.
“The very first thing that went by way of my thoughts after I heard Aiden skate over to the bench and say that was ‘Oh my God, not once more,'” he stated.
“Earlier within the season, within the first sport in opposition to Valleyfield, the identical problem occurred and sadly there was no referee that had heard these phrases.”
Coach damage in brawl
When McCaig noticed the battle get away, he determined to get his gamers off the ice immediately.
As he began pulling his gamers out, McCaig stated he did not see the opposite group’s coach coming towards him — all he knew was that moments later he was “flying down the ice.” He says he was shoved and the impression left deep bruising and a contusion on his hip.
CBC contacted the Valleyfield coach’s house however his spouse stated they didn’t wish to touch upon the incident.
On their method again to the locker rooms with the top coach, McCaig says mother and father of Valleyfield gamers threw a rubbish can lid at his colleague, hitting his head.
Different mother and father had been taunting the L’Île-Perrot gamers and asking to battle them, stated McCaig.
He referred to as the police who arrived shortly after to get statements from each groups.
McCaig later received footage from a video digicam broadcasting the sport on-line. He introduced it to the police station and filed a criticism in opposition to the coach who allegedly pushed him. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) has opened a file trying into the incident.
The SQ stated it can not touch upon ongoing investigations.
“I truthfully have not seen something like that within the 13 years that I have been teaching,” stated McCaig.
‘They maintain pushing ahead’
Though they had been shaken by Saturday’s occasions, Aiden and his household are able to maintain working towards profitable upcoming tournaments.
“It damage at first however then I received over it,” stated Aiden. “I simply wish to have a technique to communicate out, so these sorts of issues do not occur sooner or later, for different folks making an attempt to benefit from the sport that they love.”
His mom, Laurie Philipps, stated the following night time, L’Île-Perrot performed once more and the group bagged one other win.
“I feel Aiden felt the assist of everybody round him. They maintain pushing ahead,” stated Philipps.
“I am grateful he is surrounded by a father and a group that may assist him get by way of it.”
Chase agrees and says an important factor is to maintain his son’s love for hockey alive.
“We determined to not let concern smash something for us. We determined to not be afraid. We’ll be there. We’ll be simply as loud, simply as cheerful and simply as joyful,” he stated.
“We’re not going to let anyone, regardless of their phrases, come and smash and take the love and innocence of the sport away.”
The Fédération Québecoise de Hockey sur Glace Région du Lac St Louis, the affiliation representing each groups, stated “these aren’t gestures and values that we want to transmit to our younger folks.”
“Hockey is an inclusive sport advocating, amongst different issues, the values of camaraderie and respect, the place everybody can thrive and obtain in a wholesome method,” it stated in an announcement.
It refused to touch upon any disciplinary actions, saying a committee will meet with the gamers.
However McCaig is set to maintain pushing, to shift hockey tradition towards extra acceptance, and he factors to a number of stories of racism and discrimination within the sport which have come out over the previous couple of years.
“We will at all times do extra and that is what we’re seeking to achieve out of this, to coach folks. If we open the eyes of 1 particular person and alter their ideas on this, we have received,” he stated.
“We’re in 2022, we’re not again in 1940. This shouldn’t be allowed to be going down.”
For extra tales in regards to the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success tales throughout the Black neighborhood — take a look at Being Black in Canada, a CBC venture Black Canadians may be pleased with. You possibly can learn extra tales right here.
