An investigation is underway over racist slurs targeting a young Black goalie from Halifax.
Hockey PEI is leading the investigation after 16-year-old Mark Connors said he was called names during a tournament in Charlottetown last month.
In a statement, Hockey P.E.I. confirmed an investigation into the incident had been launched. “Hockey P.E.I. has a zero-tolerance policy on any act of discrimination or hatred within our game or society as a whole and takes these allegations of maltreatment very seriously.”
Connors plays with the Halifax Hawks under 18 double-A team. He said it’s not the first time it’s happened to him, as a similar incident took place in 2018 in Tantallon.
On Thursday night, NHL defenceman P.K. Subban tweeted in support of the young goalie.
Subban said it happens everyday in our game and encouraged Connors to ‘hang in there’.
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. pic.twitter.com/ZAWwlHnf3U
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) December 2, 2021
The Halifax Hawks are pulling out of any competition in PEI until the matter is addressed.
