Recent racist incidents get Leafs’ attention
When Maple Leafs captain John Tavares took control of his own Zoom scrum following practice on Monday to say that hockey has to do more to eradicate racism from the sport at all levels, it was perhaps a sign that the conversation has shifted.
Earlier this season, Wayne Simmonds was saying the same thing. The difference? Tavares is white, Simmonds is Black. The media tend to ask Black players about race, white players about getting pucks deep.
This time a white hockey player — who has taken time to educate himself more broadly about racism in hockey — was not just echoing the things he’s learned, but starting a conversation.
“Before I take any questions, I just want to say a few things just on the few racial incidents that have happened in our game in the last little while,” Tavares said. “I think it’s really important to acknowledge (that steps have) been taken over the last little while to (fight racism in) our game. But obviously we have a lot of work to do with learning and discussion and understanding, and how we can continue to apply that and make a difference, and just continue to make our game that much more inclusive.
“I thought it was important to acknowledge that today. It’s something we address as a team as well.”
Recent racist incidents in the lower leagues have reignited the discussion, co-incidentally around the same time the NHL celebrated the sweater retirement of Willie O’Ree, the first Black NHL player.
■ On Friday, the American Hockey League suspended San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik for 30 games for making a racist gesture at Tucson Roadrunners left-winger Boko Imama during a game last week.
■ Then on Sunday, the East Coast Hockey League suspended defenceman Jacob Panetta of the Jacksonville Icemen indefinitely, pending a hearing, for an apparent racist gesture toward Jordan Subban of the South Carolina Stingrays during Saturday night’s game. The Icemen then released Panetta, who contends he was doing a strongman pose, not a monkey gesture, after his fight with Subban. Subban’s brother, P.K. Subban of the New Jersey Devils, posted video of the incident in which some in the crowd could also be heard chanting the N-word.
It wasn’t just what Tavares said, but that he was saying it at all. Unprompted, at least by the local media.
“Obviously, there’s no place for that in hockey and it’s unacceptable,” said Leafs forward William Nylander. “Everybody is the same and everybody should have an equal opportunity.”
Tavares gave credit to ex-Leaf Mark Fraser, added to the team’s development coaching staff last year with an eye on equity, diversity and inclusion. He also said Simmonds and Subban helped him to understand that he can make a “bigger difference.”
“(Racism) is not something I’ve ever had to deal with,” said Tavares, “so (I’m) taking the time to understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. Just trying to continue to educate myself and then apply that to my daily life.”
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said slow progress has been made.
“I think there’s no question that perhaps there has been progress and that the conversations are being had around the league,” said Keefe. “And yet here we are in 2022 and these incidents are still happening in our pro leagues in North America. So that’s an obvious reminder that we’re not even close to where we need to be, and we have to continue to do our part to make our game safe — a safe place for people of colour.”