Bettman releases statement regarding Devante Smith-Pelly incident in Chicago
Gary Bettman and the NHL released a statement about racial chants directed at Capitals’ Devante Smith-Pelly.
On Saturday night, Washington Capitals winger Devante Smith-Pelly took a penalty during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks. It should have just been the normal routine of skating to the penalty box, waiting for the penalty to expire and coming back on the ice.
What happened was anything but normal. Smith-Pelly got heckled by a group of Chicago fans with racially insensitive chants. As a result, the four fans got kicked out of the arena.
We need to properly educate our country about black history. I’ve seen too many NHL players have to deal with racism. February needs to stay Black history month not “Hockey is For Everyone month” in the NHL. What happened to #Capitals Devante Smith-Pelly is unacceptable but I.... pic.twitter.com/WXqNAyUWyI
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) February 18, 2018
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement this past Sunday saying the actions of the fans was “unacceptable and reprehensible behavior.”
Bettman went on to also say “While this incident was isolated in nature, no player, coach, official or fan should ever have to endure such abuse at one of our games.”
The statement is important and the league needed to say something about the issue. However, the commissioner missed an opportunity to make a larger impact by announcing a form of action in his statement. The words mean well, but as the saying goes “actions speak louder than words.” It is the NHL’s “You can play” month which celebrates diversity and equality in the game.
Both Smith-Pelly and his head coach Barry Trotz commented on the situation. Trotz called the act “disgusting.” Smith-Pelly echoed the word “disgusting” and called for more social change in the world. Devante Smith-Pelly handled the situation well all things considering. There is no place in society for the behavior demonstrated by the fans in Chicago on Saturday night.
Devante Smith-Pelly on the incident last night in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/Oz9qfFWMQH
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 18, 2018
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Smith-Pelly and the Capitals are in the middle of a playoff hunt and will play Monday afternoon in Buffalo. As the Capitals will look wrap up a four-game road trip with a win. This is the first game for Smith-Pelly and the Capitals after the incident.