BC junior hockey colour commentator pulled from broadcast, banned after racist remark
Posted April 22, 2022 10:34 pm.
Last Updated April 24, 2022 10:21 pm.
A home color commentator was pulled mid-broadcast after he made a racist comment during Friday night’s game between the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Langley Rivermen.
During the second period of the game, players including the Rivermen’s Owen Kim got into a scuffle.
Alberni’s home commentator Bruce MacDonald directed a comment at Kim asking, “Does he speak English? Maybe that’s the problem.”
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
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs President, David Michaud says MacDonald was pulled off air shortly after making that comment, adding racism has no place in hockey or any sport.
“I got a text message with a little over five minutes to go in the second period from our league office with a clip with the audio,” he says. “We instantly decided at that point that Bruce would be removed from the broadcast, and future broadcasts as far as I’m concerned. He’s not welcome back on the air representing our hockey club.”
He says the comments are harmful to players and their families, adding the team has been actively trying to diversify and encourage different groups to join the sport, regardless of their background and upbringing.
“We have a 70-foot banner that hangs along the walkway that says there’s no place for racism in hockey, and we stand behind that,” Michaud tells CityNews. “We’re proud of some of our initiatives in the community and the work we put in and to say that I’m disappointed by Bruce’s comment would be an understatement.”
BCHL and Alberni Valley Bulldogs statement regarding a racist comment on tonight's broadcast. pic.twitter.com/X23QvZYnaF
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 23, 2022
“We acted immediately. He was taken off the air during the second intermission and did not return.”
The BC Hockey League also tweeted a statement confirming MacDonald was taken off air for making the racist comment and is now banned from broadcasting with any team in the BCHL.
It’s a move Michaud supports.
“No question and so glad to have the support of the league. There was literally zero hesitation on either side, and I’m proud of that. “He adds he spoke briefly to Kim after the match adding the teen was shaken by the comments directed at him by MacDonald.
“I went to speak to Owen after the game, and he had just sort of started to understand what was happening and was really upset by that,” Michaud says. “He wasn’t very accepting of an apology at this point and I don’t blame him. I just hope he knows that the BCHL and our organization support him.”
The league has apologized to Kim, his family, and those who heard the comments.
The comments by MacDonald are also being condemned by Tali Campbell, General Manager and Vice President of the Coquitlam Express Hockey Club, who tells CityNews he was “gobsmacked” when he heard the broadcast.
“I didn’t think it was real at first. Then everything goes through your mind to everything we’re trying to do in this game to get better. A comment like that from a color commentator in our league who’s been calling games for quite some time in the BCHL is just disgusting. There are no words that can make this better at all. It doesn’t matter how many times Bruce MacDonald tries to apologize to Owen Kim and his family. It’s disgusting. And I’m ashamed.”
Campbell says he can’t help but think about Kim’s parents who may have been listening to the broadcast.
“I couldn’t imagine what they felt,” he said.
More from @CampbellTali: “This is much more than hockey right now. This is a racist comment. There are minorities across the world trying to get into sports and they see this. It puts a barrier up and its our job to make sure those barriers are torn down.” @CityNewsVAN
— Tarnjit Kaur Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) April 23, 2022
Campbell admits hockey has dominantly been a sport with a majority of white players and tells CityNews Friday’s incident proves “we have to do a great deal of work to make sure this kind of stuff gets out of the game and out of the culture of hockey.”
“Our job in junior hockey is to teach our young athletes who are 16 to 20 years old about accepting people and creating an accepting culture in the dressing room, and making sure that they’re becoming new role models. And then you get a comment, it’s offside. It’s disgusting.”
Campbell says Kim and “every minority player” deserve better.
“This is much more than hockey right now, this is a racist comment. There are minorities all across the world who are trying to get to sports right now and when they’re seeing things like this, it puts a barrier up that makes them not want to get into the sport. It’s our job to make sure all those barriers are taken down. And anyone who’s making those barriers that we removed them from the game of hockey,” he said.
Campbell is also applauding the league’s ban on MacDonald, calling it the right move when it comes to addressing the comments.
“Kudos to BCHL for taking his bold stance right away. The league took him off the broadcast following the second period after the comments were made and the league is stepping up right away,” he says. “He’s done. He no longer gets that platform to speak anymore. There are not a lot of positives you ever can get from a situation like this, but if there’s a light in the tunnel, this statement our league sent out is certainly part of that. Kudos for acting on this right away and showing Owen Kim and his family that everyone is in their corner.”
