Outrage in PEI after player suspended indefinitely
Social media is exploding with the story of Keegan Mitchell of the Sherwood Metros on Friday.
During a Jr B game against the Kensington Vipers, a member of the Vipers directed an anti-Asian slur at one of Mitchell's teammates. Mitchell said he wasn't comfortable sharing exactly what was said, but it was clearly heinous enough to get his attention.
Mitchell, in typical hockey fashion, confronted the opposing player immediately and after telling him in no uncertain terms that what was said wasn't acceptable, he took a swing at his ankles. The slash earned Mitchell a 2 game suspension, while the racial slur earned his victim of the slash the same.
Mitchell took to social media on January 5th after the suspensions were announced. He criticized the league and its officials for not taking racism seriously.
«For those of you who know me personally or through hockey, I am almost absolutely certain you recognize me as someone who always stands up for themselves, but more importantly for my friends and teammates. If Hockey P.E.I. took these scenarios as seriously as they say they do, this player would have been suspended appropriately. A two-game suspension for a racist slur is absolutely disgraceful. The pitiful suspension is making our whole community look racist.»
Keegan clearly wasn't mincing his words on this, and the league took notice. Today he was notified that he has been suspended from play indefinitely.
We love to say that hockey is for everyone, and yeah, there's always a bad apple out there that needs throwing away, but if the people in charge don't hold players accountable, then we really can't say our great sport is open to all. Even worse, when they were called out on it, they went after the player calling them out rather than the Vipers player who threw out the slur in the first place.
I love hockey, I love the camaraderie that being on a hockey team brings. Keegan Mitchell is a good teammate. Someone crossed a line with his teammate and he stood up for him. That's how hockey is supposed to be. The player on the other side of this deserved a much longer suspension for what he said. Mitchell went above and beyond when he called the league out, sticking out his own neck to defend his teammate. His actions should be commended, not punished.
Now that the story is circulating, there will be pressure on Hockey P.E.I. to do the right thing. If they don't, it will be a sad day for Canadian hockey.
