B.C. minor league hockey broadcaster for racist comment about a player
LANGLEY, B.C. — The broadcaster for a minor-league hockey team in B.C. has been pulled off the air after making a racist comment about a player.
Alberni Valley Bulldogs colour commentator Bruce MacDonald was calling a playoff game against the Langley Rivermen on Friday when he asked whether Rivermen forward Owen Kim speaks English.
The comment came after Kim was involved in a dust-up in the second period.
I don’t care what anyone says, this is inexcusable. Do better. https://t.co/eELn0Pp29H pic.twitter.com/EpLknF0s93
— Mac Guardiero (@MacGuardiero) April 23, 2022
Play-by-play broadcaster Evan Hammond immediately said MacDonald had gone too far and the colour commentator was taken off the air.
The BCHL issued a statement late on Friday apologizing to Kim, his family and anyone else who had heard the broadcast.
BCHL and Alberni Valley Bulldogs statement regarding a racist comment on tonight's broadcast. pic.twitter.com/X23QvZYnaF
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 23, 2022
"We have a zero tolerance for this type of behaviour and Mr. MacDonald has been banned from any future broadcasts involving the Bulldogs or any other BCHL team," the statement said.
The radio station hosting the broadcast issued its own statement early Saturday morning saying MacDonald's comments were "extremely offensive, inappropriate and have no place on our station."
"Racism has no place in hockey," the statement said. "Racism has no place on our radio stations nor in our company."