Commentator fired for making racist comment during B.C. junior hockey game

WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.

A commentator has been fired after making a racist comment while calling a game between the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Langley Rivermen in the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL).

Bruce MacDonald, who was the colour commentator for Port Alberni radio station 93.3 The Peak's broadcast of the game, made a disparaging comment against 17-year-old Rivermen forward Owen Kim, who is of Asian descent.

The 5'7" player from North Vancouver was involved in an altercation with Bulldogs defenceman Logan Holm in the second period of the game.

"Oh, Kim … give it a break. Get on a ladder and talk to him," MacDonald is heard saying immediately after.

"Does he speak English? Maybe that's the problem."

I don’t care what anyone says, this is inexcusable. Do better. <a href="https://t.co/eELn0Pp29H">https://t.co/eELn0Pp29H</a> <a href="https://t.co/EpLknF0s93">pic.twitter.com/EpLknF0s93</a>

MacDonald's comments drew an immediate reaction from play-by-play announcer Evan Hammond, who is heard saying "Now, come on! That's too far."

At the end of the period, MacDonald was removed from the broadcast by the Bulldogs and subsequently banned from future BCHL broadcasts.

"Really, what this comes down to is a player safety issue," Jesse Adamson, BCHL communications manager, told CBC News. "When people think player safety, often they think suspensions to players for bad hits ... But off-the-ice stuff counts as well."

BCHL and Alberni Valley Bulldogs statement regarding a racist comment on tonight's broadcast. <a href="https://t.co/X23QvZYnaF">pic.twitter.com/X23QvZYnaF</a>

"We want to make sure that we send the message that treating one of our players like this is completely