5 P.E.I. minor hockey players suspended over racial slurs aimed at Black goalie from Halifax

A Hockey P.E.I. disciplinary committee has suspended five minor hockey players for 25 games for aiming racial slurs and taunts at a Black goalie from Nova Scotia during a tournament in Charlottetown.

"A lengthy suspension is required in order to reflect the seriousness of this type of conduct and to recognize the degrading nature of racial slurs," said the report by the governing body's discipline and ethics committee, which examined the case. 

"A racial slur attacks the very core of what it means to be recognized as a person."

Because they are minors, Hockey P.E.I. is not identifying the players being penalizes as a result of the incident. 

Mark Connors, a Black goalie from Nova Scotia, was subjected to repeated racist slurs and taunts at the Falcons Early Bird Tournament, which was held in Charlottetown from Nov. 18 to 21, 2021.

When does it stop? Believe it or not these stories are sent to me everyday. This is happening everyday in our game. EVERYDAY! Leave your comments and support for mark below. Hang in there mark! We got you. <a href="https://t.co/ZAWwlHnf3U">pic.twitter.com/ZAWwlHnf3U</a>

Connors, a goalie with the Halifax Hawks U18 AA team, said the N-word was directed at him during the first game he played.

"Some of the younger kids in the stands were calling me a racial slur. One guy said Halifax has a n----- for a goalie," said Connors after the tournament. "In the third period they kept on talking, saying n-----, n-----, n-----."

The Halifax player said some of his teammates and coaches heard the comments coming from the stands of Simmons Arena.

Hockey P.E.I. appointed a five-member committee to address the case, though two people recruited through a local BIPOC advocacy organization resigned before the