Alleged racial slur at midget hockey game prompts brawl; Quebec police investigating

A suspension, hearing and possible charges are in the air after a 16-year-old black hockey player was allegedly racially abused during an U18 Midget game west of the island of Montreal.

Aiden Chase plays left wing for the Ile-Perrot Riverains and has played hockey for 12 years. He joins his coaches and parents in speaking out about what transpired during a game at Valleyfield on Saturday night against the Valleyfield Braves.

“When the game ended and I walked up to my goalie at the end of the game, a player who had jumped off the bench from the other team passed me and made the comment,” Chase said. “So I turned and went to confront him.”

Chase tussled with a few Brave players, but video shows it was a minor altercation and no punches were thrown.

The referee ended the fight and Chase went to his trainer to tell him what happened.

Coach Jason McCaig went to speak to the referee and was told that the referee heard the insult and that the penalty would be recorded on the score sheet.

While he was talking, “all hell broke loose,” he said.

“That’s when they all went over and a big brawl started between the two teams,” Chase said.

Video of the fight shows McCaig approaching the players and trying to separate them before a Braves trainer pushes him onto the ice.

“I grabbed one of our players by the back of their jersey and pushed him to our end of the ice,” said McCaig, who was wearing dress shoes at the time. “As I turned, the Valleyfield coach ran up to me and sent me with a shove with both hands to the chest… It’s extremely dangerous. To be honest, it’s a miracle I didn’t smash my head in the ice. Unbelievable.”

McCaig told a parent to call the police.

While walking to the locker rooms, McCaig said a Valleyfield parent threw a trash can lid at his assistant coach and hit him on the head. He added that other parents mocked his players but left when they saw the coaches.

The Surete du Quebec confirmed that a complaint had been filed in Valleyfield and that an investigation into the alleged attack is ongoing.

RECURRENT PROBLEM

According to the player and the coach, it’s not the first time the Riverains have had a problem with the Valleyfield team this year.

Chase said he heard from a teammate that a Braves player made a similar insult in a previous game, but he didn’t hear it.

On Saturday, however, there was no way he could overhear what was being said to him.

“At first I was shocked by what happened because I wasn’t expecting it, but I was also very upset, understandably, too,” Chase said.

The winger said he has no recollection of a previous altercation with the player in question throughout the game and does not recall seeing him on the ice.

His mother, Laurie Phillips, was in the stands with the other parents and said she knew what was going on based on history between the two teams.

“You’re sitting there hoping the situation doesn’t get worse and you kind of feel helpless that there’s nothing you can do,” said Phillips, who was in the stands with Chase’s father, Dwight Chase.

Phillips was aware of what happened in the previous game and knows her son usually has a calm temper. She knew very quickly that something had been said about her son.

“The way he reacted, he never does,” she said. “I knew there was only one reason he would turn around and confront someone face to face and actually I have to say I was really proud of how reticent he was. He didn’t throw punches. He made it clear that he heard it and it wasn’t okay, and then he immediately went to his coaches.”

When McCaig saw Chase after the game, he was discouraged.

“He’s one of the kindest, gentlest kids you’ll ever meet,” said the coach. “It’s just a shame he’s had to suffer that a second time… It’s awful.”

According to the coach, the player faces a suspension of at least five games, further penalties are possible.

The league could not comment on the brawl or abuse but said it was concerned about the situation and took it seriously.

“These are not the actions and values ​​that we want to pass on to our youth. Ice hockey is an inclusive sport that promotes values ​​of camaraderie and respect, among other things, where everyone can thrive and perform healthily,” the league said in an email. “As the individuals involved will be summoned before a disciplinary committee, we are not commenting on this matter.”

Chase said his teammates and coaches have been very supportive during the ordeal and want to encourage other players of color that they are not alone when they find themselves in a similar situation.

“I can’t promise anyone it’s never going to happen,” he said. “With that, there is always a way to rise above it. People like your teammates, your parents, your coaches and others around you are there to help you and spread the word about it.”

This story will be updated.