'It's not right' Rangers GM says of racism faced by player Givani Smith

Givani Smith just wants to play hockey.

The Kitchener Rangers player and Detroit Red Wings prospect doesn't want to talk about the racial slurs he endured this season.

He doesn't want to talk about the physical threats.

"He just wants to kind of move on from this," Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie said in an interview Tuesday.

"He still just wants to play hockey, and move on and make the Detroit Red Wings next year."

Smith's family issued a statement to CBC News through GP Daniele, director of pro player development for TPG Hockey.

"Givani is incredibly humbled by the support received," the statement said. "At this time, Givani respectfully asks for privacy, as he and his family wish to move-on from the incident. His focus is now on being a Detroit Red Wing."

Police escort to arena

The racism Smith experienced both during the regular season as well as in the postseason came to light over the weekend in an article by Josh Brown in the Waterloo Region Record.

The racism included fans and players at arenas making comments and at least one instance of a player acting like a monkey.

Rangers fan Trevor Herrle Braun said he witnessed a Sarnia Sting player make those motions at Smith during a game in the first round of the playoffs in Sarnia.

"Pretty shocking," Herrle Braun said of what he saw. "A lot of the fans were making derogatory comments as well, too."

But Smith, he said, "has a way of just turning it off and just focusing his energy on his play."

There were also posts and messages on social media, including one death threat.

In the second round of the playoffs against the Soo Greyhounds, Smith flipped the middle finger at the Greyhounds' bench. That was during Game 6 on the Greyhounds' home ice. It earned Smith a two-game suspension.

Due to the physical threats against Smith after Game 6, police escorted the Rangers to the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie for Game 7 of their series against the Soo Greyhounds. McKenzie said the move was made by the Rangers, Greyhounds and the league to ensure the safety of the players.

CBC News reached out to the management of both the Soo Greyhounds and the Sarnia Sting. Neither responded to a request for comment.

Not an isolated case

Online, people say Smith is far from alone and this is an ongoing issue in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

The Athletic Toronto assistant managing editor Sunaya Sapurji tweeted a photo of a story she wrote in 2001 for the Toronto Star with the headline, "Racial slur allegation no shock to OHLer."

"In 2003 I wrote on with the headline: Racism rampant in OHL,'" Sapurji said in her tweet. "Just two of many written over the years. So if you're 'shocked' by what happened to Givani Smith, you need to pay attention because this shit has been going on for decades."

Former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes tweeted he played in the Ontario Hockey League 24 years ago and Smith's story was a reminder of his own experiences.

"Sending death threats to an OHL hockey player due to his colour is incomprehensible," Weekes tweeted. "This is not a Canada, U.S.A., or hockey thing. It's a terrible thing."

Smith himself tweeted just one line Monday, thanking people for their support.

'You would hope common sense prevails'

OHL commissioner David Branch said he was unaware of any allegations of misconduct by players.

"We can deal with players," he said. "Fans are not quite the same, but if our on-ice officials should ever see such actions as you describe, then they can have the fans removed."

He said the league doesn't receive many complaints from players about racism and cautioned painting all OHL fans with the same brush would be irresponsible.

"Unfortunately, we don't have the forums and the ability to speak to fans. You would hope common sense prevails," he said.

Branch said he hadn't spoken to Smith or the team about the racism Smith faced.

"There's been a lot coming out, which is all new to us. Maybe at the time when all comments have been made, we're in a better position and situation to address it," he said.

'Unacceptable' behaviour

McKenzie said no player should have to experience what Smith did this season.

"It's not right, some of the stuff he had to hear," he said, adding Smith's teammates were also affected by it.

"Not everyone is used to hearing what he had to hear or have dealt with racism before."

But talking about racism in the sport is important, even if it's just one or two per cent of fans who feel it's OK to take chirping too far.

"What it boils down to, it's a society problem," McKenzie said.

"I don't think this is a problem that is very specific to a certain team or a certain league or sport even. I think you see this stuff happening in all walks of life, unfortunately," he added.

"It's important that we bring light to it, to educate people that it is unacceptable."