Surrey, B.C., hockey parents question why coach was suspended after standing up to alleged racism

A group of hockey parents in Surrey, B.C., is questioning why their sons' coach was suspended and then dismissed after standing up for players who they say were targeted with racial slurs.

Brian MacGillivray says he pulled the Surrey Minor Hockey Association Under-11 A1 boys team off the ice during the third period of a game on Feb. 17 after a number of players reported being called "monkey," "banana," and the N-word by opposing players on the Ridge Meadows U-11 A1 boys team. 

MacGillivray says he heard Ridge Meadows' head coach and players shout "banana" every time Surrey's best player stepped on the ice.

Fourteen of Surrey's 16 players are South Asian, one is Chinese and one is Caucasian.

"You're looking at these little kids, they're nine, 10 and 11 years old and they're crying," said MacGillivray. "Some of the kids are like, 'I don't want to go back out there' ...  As the person in charge of these kids, their mental health ... they didn't feel safe. That's why we took them off the ice."

After a B.C. Hockey investigation, MacGillivray received a 30-day suspension for "refusing to start play," a violation of Hockey Canada rule 10.8. 

Another investigationinto the alleged racism is ongoing, according to B.C. Hockey president Cameron Hope. 

CBC has reached out to the Ridge Meadows coach and Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association for comment.

Surrey U-11 A1 assistant coach Justin Sayson said it makes no sense for B.C. Hockey to treat the issue of refusing to start play and alleged racism as unrelated events.

"[B.C. Hockey] said, 'Yes or no, did you refuse to take the ice? You did? Here's your suspension.' They never looked at why," said Sayson, whose son is on the team. 

"I'm not sure where this racism investigation is at.