Hockey player suspended indefinitely after criticising response to racial slur aimed at teammate

A junior "B" hockey player on Prince Edward Island says he's been informed that he's been suspended indefinitely after he took to social media to criticize what he felt was a weak response to a racial slur aimed a teammate.

Keegan Mitchell plays for the Sherwood Metros of the Island Junior Hockey League. He told CTV Atlantic that during a game on December 17th, his teammate was called an anti-Asian racial slur by a member of the Kensington Vipers. Mitchell was unhappy with the slur and slashed the person across the legs two times. Both he and the member of the Vipers received two game suspensions. However, Mitchell's suspension was extended to indefinite after he made a Facebook post on January 5th questioning why the other player's ban was so short.

"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," Mitchell wrote.

"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."

Shortly after, he received a letter from Hockey PEI stating he had been suspended indefinitely for violating the league's social media policy by publicly criticizing officials and Hockey P.E.I. and making reference to a player on the rival Kensington Vipers. Mitchell said he fully intends to appeal.

"I'm not just going to let this go," he said. "If I don't ever play hockey again, that's fine by me, because I'm going to fight this until it's right."

Source: CTV Atlantic

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