Investigation over alleged racist incidents at P.E.I. hockey tournament wraps up
An independent report into alleged racist incidents at a P.E.I. hockey tournament last year is now in the hands of the young player who says he was the target of slurs.
The family of 16-year-old Mark Connors said they are keeping the contents of the 29-page report confidential at the request of Hockey PEI, the governing body for organized hockey on the island.
"Now we can move forward. Let's have a disciplinary hearing and let's decide where they go from there," said the teen's father, Wayne Connors, from his Halifax home.
It's been over two months since the Halifax Hawks goalie said he was called racist names, including the N-word, at a game in Charlottetown.
The next day, he also reported facing racist abuse from some P.E.I. players in a hotel where the teams were staying. Mark Connors said he was told he shouldn't play hockey because it's "a white man's sport."
Connors said he thinks the response from Hockey PEI is dragging on too long.
"Two months later, I find after the incident I'm just taking it day by day, keeping it simple," he said. "The only thing I feel is disappointed in how long this process has taken, and in Hockey PEI."
The teen said he thinks it's the right decision to keep the investigation report under wraps, adding he wants to shield the names of the players he accuses of making the racist comments.
"I wouldn't want them to be judged by society as a racist or any of that. Just because they made one simple mistake ... we hope," he said.
His father also expressed frustration with the pace of Hockey PEI's response, which he said should have been finished in weeks rather than months.
"It was a long time coming. But at least it's thorough. I'm glad Hockey PEI stepped up and did a thorough