More Black hockey players in western Quebec say they've faced racial slurs

More Black minor hockey players in western Quebec are coming forward with allegations of racial slurs less than a week after another Black player spoke out.

On Monday, Hockey Outaouais and the team L'Intrépide de Gatineau confirmed in a statement they have launched an investigation after two of the team's players said they were subjected to racist remarks. 

One of those players, Anthony Allain-Samaké, told Radio-Canada the bullying led him to quit the team.

"Being called the N-word was still quite common for several players," said his mother Julie Allain in French.

"I told him it is totally unacceptable."

Blesson Ethan Citegetse, 14, plays for Les Loups des Collinesat the Bantam BB level.

He said that during a game this past weekend,one of his teammates overheard an opponent use the N-word when referring to Citegetse, who was in the penalty box at the time. 

It's not the first time he's been discriminated against, he said. 

"I was sad because … hockey is a sport [where] we're all a family. We're all hockey players. We should all have respect for each other."

Citegetse said this past weekend's incident left him angry.

"I couldn't do anything. The refs didn't hear it. I can't go complain to the refs."

Citegetse's experience comes only days after another Black player, David Godwin of Les Voiliers d'Aylmer, told CBC he has been the target of repeated racial taunts and intimidation on the ice throughout this past season.

On one occasion, Godwin said he was compared to African jungle animals.

The president of the association representing Godwin's team told CBC News he supports strict penalties for racial taunts and discriminatory behaviour on the ice, but on-ice officials need to witness and report it.

Jean Bosco