SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — The American Hockey League has suspended San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik 30 games for making a "racial gesture" at Tucson Roadrunners left-wing Boko Imama during a game last week.
The league said in a release that Hrabik made the gesture at Imama, who is Black, during Tucson’s 4-3 win over San Jose on Jan. 12.
Tuscon is the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Imama, born in Montreal to parents who immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, posted a message on his Twitter account calling out abuse that he’s suffered while playing the sport.
"I’ve been dealing with situations like this my entire life," he wrote. "As a person of colour playing youth hockey, through Junior and now twice as a professional, this keeps happening to me over and over again."
Hrabik, who has already served three games of the suspension, would be eligible to return April 3. The Czech player released a statement saying he was "ashamed of today’s events and embarrassed by the actions that led to my suspension."
"I want everyone to know that I’m very sorry for what has occurred and I take full responsibility for my actions," he wrote. "People should know that I had absolutely no inappropriate intent. The gesture was made in the heat of battle and while I didn’t mean anything racist by what I did, I realize now through my own ignorance how my gesture could be interpreted."
The AHL said in a statement that Hrabik may apply for reinstatement after March 12, based on an evaluation of his progress in the education and training on racism and inclusion administered by the NHL’s Player Inclusion Committee.
Hrabik is 22 years old and has spent time playing in the WHL, ECHL and AHL after leaving his home country.
Former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque was impressed by both the strict punishment and Imama’s message on Twitter.
"I thought it was awesome," said Laraque. "I said it was awesome that the AHL really decided to really punish people that was going to use that racial remark because it’ll be 2022. There’s no place in our society for that."
Laraque said when he played, there was little in the way of punishment for racist remarks, and there certainly wasn’t any punishment for racist remarks towards the NHL’s first Black player.
"I know back in the day of Willie O’Ree I know there was no punishment for that," he said.
O’Ree played his first game for the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958 against the Montreal Canadixjmtzywens. The Bruins retired his number on the 64th anniversary of that game on Jan. 18, 2022.
Laraque said seeing the AHL take such a strong stance shows the progress the sport has made.
"It’s a step in the right direction," he said. "I think I sent a really good message to everyone that would even think of even trying out their racial remarks… This is going to hurt his hockey season and his future and good luck finding another team after that."
Imama said in his statement that he believes hockey has made positive strides, but the incident shows that there is still work to be done.
"We still have a long way to go to educate the ignorant and to make hockey a safe place for everyone," he wrote.
Left winger Boko Imama called out racist actions in the AHL after he was abused for a second time while playing for the Tucson Roadrunners. SOURCE: Tucson Roadrunners
NOT THE FIRST TIME
Imama has been subjected to racist behaviour in the AHL before. Bakersfield Condors defenceman Brandon Manning used a racial slur in an altercation with Imama during a Jan. 22, 2020 game, when Imama was with the Ontario Reign.
"We have enough to worry about as pro hockey players and it saddens me when anyone has to deal with these types of situations," said Imama.
Manning was suspended five games for uttering the slur.
"It’s frustrating and disheartening that this is still going on in 2022!" said Imama.
Enough is enough! pic.twitter.com/bETzUXEPGo
— Boko Imama (@bokojr) January 22, 2022
TEAMS DENOUNCE HRABIK
The San Jose Barracuda are the AHL-affiliate of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. The Sharks and Coyotes and their affiliates released statements denouncing Hrabik’s actions.
"We are appalled by the disgusting and blatantly racist gesture that was displayed to Boko during the Roadrunners game at San Jose on Jan. 12, and support the AHL’s action and suspension," the Coyotes wrote.
Statement from Arizona Coyotes President & CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez: https://t.co/sMgXdPs4xR pic.twitter.com/7mAJST0iWd
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) January 21, 2022
"The Barracuda and San Jose Sharks organizations were appalled to learn of this incident," the teams wrote. "We offer our sincerest apologies to Boko, the Roadrunners organization, the AHL, our fans, and the entire hockey community."
Statement from the San Jose Barracuda and San Jose Sharks Organizations pic.twitter.com/0lYaLuDbUl
— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) January 21, 2022
Hrabik asked for Imama’s forgiveness in his statement, and said he respects the left winger.
"I alone am responsible for that, it was terrible, and I make no excuses. When I heard about Boko’s reaction to the gesture, I was horrified by what I had done," he wrote. "I fully accept the consequences of my actions and am not appealing the discipline imposed by the AHL."
Imama ended his statement on a positive note, hoping that it becomes a teaching moment.
"My hope is that people learn from this and that some day hockey will truly be for everyone," he wrote.
— With files from The Canadian Press.
— With reporting from CTV News journalist Rob Lurie.
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Boko Imama was racially abused while playing an AHL game. The Montreal-born son of immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and plays in the AHL. SOURCE: Tucson Roadrunners
