A Montreal-area family speaks out after their son was called a racist slur at a hockey rink, sparking a fight

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A family from L’le-Perrot, Que., is speaking out against hockey intolerance after their son was called a racist slur by a Valleyfield player during a game last Saturday.

“Obviously when this first happened, the first emotion is pure rage because you’re trying to stop your kids from going through this stuff,” said Dwight Chase, the boy’s father.

Aiden Chase, who plays with the L’le-Perrot Midget A U18 team, was on a high as his side beat Valleyfield 3-1 until a player called him the N-word.

The infraction was recorded on the game scorecard. The penalty is usually a five-game suspension.

“I was mostly shocked and upset. That’s why my first reaction was to turn around and face the youngster on the ice,” the 16-year-old said.

“It opened my mind to how it is and it’s something that can often happen.”

A scuffle ensued on the ice and L’le-Perrot assistant coach Jason McCaig was pushed as he tried to break the ice.

WATCH | L’le-Perrot’s assistant hockey coach tries to break up the fight:

Quebec hockey coach pushed onto the iceA coach of a Midget A team in L’le-Perrot, Que., was pushed after intervening when a player from the Valleyfield team called one of his racial slur players.

McCaig said this isn’t the first time a Valleyfield player has uttered a racial slur at Aiden on the ice.

“The first thing that came to mind when I heard Aiden skate to the bench and say it was ‘Oh my God, not yet,'” he said.

“Earlier in the season, in the first game against Valleyfield, the same problem occurred and unfortunately no referee had heard these words.”

Coach injured in fight

When McCaig saw the fight break out, he decided to get his players off the ice right away.

As he began to withdraw his players, McCaig said he didn’t see the other team’s coach coming towards him. All he knew was that moments later he was “flying on the ice”. He says he was jostled and the impact left deep bruises and a contusion on his hip.

CBC contacted the Valleyfield coach’s home, but his wife said she would not comment on the incident.

On the way back to the locker room with the head coach, McCaig says the Valleyfield players’ parents threw a trash can lid at his colleague, hitting his head.

Other parents were making fun of the L’le-Perrot players and asking to fight them, McCaig said.

Jason McCaig says he tried to get his players off the ice when a fight started, but instead got knocked down. (John Ngala/CBC)

He called the police who arrived soon after to obtain statements from both teams.

McCaig then obtained footage from a video camera broadcasting the game online. He took it to the police station and filed a complaint against the trainer who allegedly pushed him. The Sret du Qubec (SQ) has opened a file on the incident.

The SQ said it could not comment on ongoing investigations.

“Honestly, I haven’t seen anything like it in the 13 years I’ve been coaching,” McCaig said.

“They keep moving forward”

Although they were rocked by the events of Saturday, Aiden and his family are ready to keep working to win the tournaments to come.

“It hurt at first, but then I got over it,” Aiden said. “I just want to have a way to express myself, so that this stuff doesn’t happen in the future, for other people who are trying to enjoy the sport they love.”

His mother, Laurie Philipps, said that the next night, L’le-Perrot played again and the team picked up another victory.

“I think Aiden felt the support from everyone around him. They just keep moving forward,” Philipps said.

“I am grateful that he has a father and a team around him who can help him through this ordeal.”

Aiden Chase’s family speak out against intolerance in hockey. They say sport should be for everyone. (John Ngala/CBC)

Chasea agrees and says the most important thing is to keep her son’s love for hockey alive.

“We’ve decided not to let fear get in the way of anything. We’ve decided not to be afraid. We’re going to be there. We’re going to be just as loud, just as joyful and just as happy,” he said. -he declares.

“We are not going to let anyone, despite their words, come and ruin and take away the love and innocence of the game.”

The Fédération Québécoise de Hockey sur Glace Région du Lac St Louis, the association representing the two teams, declared that “these are not gestures and values ​​that we wish to transmit to our young people”.

“Hockey is an inclusive sport that advocates, among other things, the values ​​of camaraderie and respect, where everyone can grow and succeed in a healthy way,” he said in a statement.

He declined to comment on the disciplinary action, saying a committee would meet with the players.

But McCaig is determined to keep pushing, to move hockey culture towards greater acceptance, and he points to multiple reports of racism and discrimination in the sport that have come to light in recent years.

“We can always do more and that’s what we’re looking to get out of it, to educate people. If we open a person’s eyes and change their thoughts about it, we’ve won,” he said. declared.

“We are in 2022, we are not back in 1940. This should not be happening.”

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians, from anti-Black racism to stories of success within the Black community, check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project that Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

(Radio Canada)

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