Two head coaches and 15 players have been suspended after an ugly university hockey brawl that has raised questions about the sportB次元官网网址檚 culture of trash talking B次元官网网址� and attitudes toward sexual assault.
Atlantic University Sport announced the suspensions Wednesday, after members of the Acadia Axemen and St. Francis Xavier X-Men fought during a game in Wolfville, N.S., on Saturday.
The melee spread from the centre of the ice to both squadsB次元官网网址� benches and was captured on video that was circulated widely online.
Six Acadia players and nine from the X-Men were handed automatic suspensions of between two and five games, totalling 39 games. The suspensions also apply to the two head coaches and are effective immediately.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unfortunate that something like that is even possible in our locker rooms or within our teams in menB次元官网网址檚 hockey,B次元官网网址� AUS executive director Phil Currie said at a news conference in Halifax.
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On Monday, St. F.X. issued a statement alleging the brawl was instigated by a derogatory comment related to a sexual assault survivor that was made to an X-Men player. A few hours later, Acadia issued its own statement, saying the information it had gathered was not consistent with allegations made by St. F.X.
On Wednesday, Currie told reporters the alleged comment was directed at St. F.X. player Sam Studnicka, and was something to the effect of, B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e a little (expletive) rapist.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚n the comment, the word B次元官网网址榬apistB次元官网网址� was used, so to a victim of sexual assault, obviously that has a tremendous amount of impact,B次元官网网址� Currie told reporters.
B次元官网网址淟et me be clear about this: In terms of student athletes in our system, regardless of the sport, making comments like that, itB次元官网网址檚 just not acceptable or appropriate, and we will address it.B次元官网网址�
Currie issued a later clarification saying there was B次元官网网址渟ome consensusB次元官网网址� that inappropriate words were used before the melee, but there was a B次元官网网址渓ack of clarityB次元官网网址� about their context, and said further investigation is necessary.
And he added that his reference to B次元官网网址渁 victim of sexual assaultB次元官网网址� was meant in a general sense: B次元官网网址淭his kind of language B次元官网网址� in general B次元官网网址� can have a negative impact on victims of sexual assault everywhere. I apologize if I misspoke or if my words were misinterpreted.B次元官网网址�
Also on Wednesday, Currie was asked about the place of so-called B次元官网网址渃hirpingB次元官网网址� in hockey, were players often try to gain an edge through insulting or making fun of their opponents. He said while he doesnB次元官网网址檛 see the need for it, it would be hard to police in every instance.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that weB次元官网网址檝e tried to do in university sport, one of the reasons we donB次元官网网址檛 have fighting in university sport, is an attempt to change the culture in the hockey world. I think potentially, this is related to a cultural issue and (itB次元官网网址檚) not acceptable in a university environment. We donB次元官网网址檛 condone it in any way, shape or form.B次元官网网址�
Currie has also filed official complaints on five athletes and three coaches involved in SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 incident after reviewing video evidence.
That means they will be subject to a secondary review process, which will involve the AUS sport chair B次元官网网址済athering additional evidence and speaking directly with players, officials and coaches involved to determine where more severe sanctions are warranted,B次元官网网址� a statement said.
In a statement Wednesday, Acadia University called the fighting incident B次元官网网址渦nacceptableB次元官网网址� and said it accepts the ruling by the AUS.
The university also acknowledged that one of its players made an B次元官网网址渋nappropriate comment containing a particular wordB次元官网网址� to a St. FX player.
B次元官网网址淭he Acadia student-athlete admitted and took responsibility immediately after the game and extended an apology,B次元官网网址� the statement said.
However, the university said it disputes that the comment was made deliberately or that it was B次元官网网址渕ade with the intent and in the context in which it has been portrayed in mainstream and social media.B次元官网网址�
For its part, St. F.X. said little in an emailed response. B次元官网网址淪t. F.X. is honouring the decision of the AUS. We have no further comment.B次元官网网址�
On Monday, Studnicka issued a statement saying that over his three-year AUS career, B次元官网网址淚 have been challenged in dealing with insulting and derogatory comments on the ice pertaining to the shaming of a sexual assault survivor.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t has taken an emotional toll on me, and it has been frustrating that one AUS hockey program in particular has elicited repeated on-ice comments directed towards me,B次元官网网址� said Studnicka.
B次元官网网址淭here is no place for such comments within our society. Sexual assault is a very serious issue and there is simply no place for shaming sexual assault survivors, ever.B次元官网网址�
Currie confirmed that he was informed about the issue two years ago by both schools after they had discussed it and had found a solution that was B次元官网网址渟atisfactory to all parties involved.B次元官网网址�
He said while he didnB次元官网网址檛 know what they agreed to, there were no complaints brought to his attention last season. Currie did say comments had been made by teams other than Acadia, although he didnB次元官网网址檛 elaborate.
B次元官网网址淚t flies against all the missions of our institutions,B次元官网网址� Currie said. B次元官网网址淲e need to be solid and strong on how we address the rest of this.B次元官网网址�
AcadiaB次元官网网址檚 statement Wednesday also called into question reports the inappropriate comments were an ongoing issue. The school said the issue involving St. FX was brought to them two years ago.
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B次元官网网址淭hey were dealt with at that time and there have been no such incidents since then. Those earlier incidents occurred before the Acadia student-athlete involved in SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 incident joined its hockey program.B次元官网网址�
It said the published statements on Monday by St. FX had led to an B次元官网网址渙utpouring of comments and commentary, including personal threats directed to members of the Acadia community, that are a reaction to a narrative that simply is not true.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e are acutely aware of the importance of making every effort to eliminate sexual violence and re-victimization of survivors everywhere in our society. We believe our student-athletes, coaches, and every member of the Acadia community have an obligation to act as role models in our communities and this standard was not met on Saturday night.B次元官网网址�
The university said it is working with St. FX to address the incident and the two schools would be making a joint statement in the future.
Acadia was scheduled to play at Saint MaryB次元官网网址檚 University Wednesday night, while St. F.X. was set to return to action Friday at the University of New Brunswick.
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
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