March 30: After serving 28 of his 30 games, Hrabik has been reinstated by the AHL. This follows an evaluation of his progress in an education and training program, conducted in conjunction with the NHL’s Player Inclusion Committee. He is eligible to re-join the Barracuda for the stretch run, but Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News tweets that Hrabik will continue training on his own while he awaits assignment to the ECHL.
Jan 21: The AHL has issued a suspension of 30 games to San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik for a racial gesture directed at Tucson Roadrunners forward Boko Imama. The incident occurred on January 12, and Hrabik was put on indefinite suspension. He has served three games so far and will be eligible to return to the lineup on April 3. He may apply for a reduction in suspension after March 12, based on an evaluation of his progress in the necessary education and training with the Player Inclusion Committee.
AHL president Scott Howson released the following statement:
The AHL stands with Boko Imama. It is unfair that any player should be subjected to comments or gestures based on their race; they should be judged only on their ability to perform as a player on the ice, as a teammate in the locker room and as a member of their community.
The San Jose Sharks, NHL affiliate of the Barracuda, have also released a statement, which in part reads:
The Barracuda and San Jose Sharks organizations were appalled to learn of this incident. We offer our sincerest apologies to Boko, the Roadrunners organization, the AHL, our fans, and the entire hockey community. While we support the ability for individuals to atone and learn from disrespectful incidents in this context, these actions are in direct opposition to the Barracuda and Shark organizations’ values.
Hrabik, 22, is not under contract with the Sharks. He signed a one-year AHL contract last summer which covers the 2021-22 season. In 21 games, he has four points.
Imama, 25, was acquired by the Arizona Coyotes last summer in a deal with the Los Angeles Kings and signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract in August. He has played in 27 games for the Roadrunners this season, recording eight points. This is not the first time that an incident like this has occurred to him in the minor leagues. In 2020–exactly two years ago–Brandon Manning, then playing with the Bakersfield Condors, was suspended five games for directing a racial slur at Imama.
Is it that hard NOT to say such words for some people?
That guy’s North American career is over.
What he did is unacceptable but…
Intent to injure/harm 4 games
Being mean with a gesture 30 games
Like I said racism has no place in the game but he would have gotten a shorter suspension for leaving the bench to knee him down to the ice and deliver the people’s elbow to his head
You make the point here that needs to be made but many would rather ignore. When a suspension for using bad language far exceeds that of causing bodily harm to someone, then your value system is far off the mark.
Frankly, issues like this need to be taken care of on the ice. An officials job is hard enough without having to be a speech policeman too.
That is a terrible suggestion at the end
Really? Did it ever occur to you that players mouth off like this precisely due to not fearing having to drop their mitts with someone who could give them a good pounding? Cause and effect.
Look I completely get being mad at a opposing player but race should just be off limits when going back and forth. Like it shouldn’t be that hard to know not to cross that barrier when trash talking.
I kinda sorta almost understand the logic behind it (not wanting to amplify), but I hate that stories never tell you exactly what happened anymore.
“Player X is accused of sexual assault.” Does that mean Darren Sharper or Kellen Winslow? Wide range there.
Not knowing any racist gestures and not wanting to guess/try to invent them, I looked it up…he made gorilla like movements, FYI.
I’d say enjoy the KHL, but it sounds like he’s not a good enough player for that, even.
Kellen Winslow yikes.
FTR, I meant Kellen Winslow in the Target parking lot, not the other worse stuff that came out later that I forgot about.
Let’s go with “wide range between, say, Logan Mailloux and the two guys I mentioned before”.
I was going to say, something wasn’t quite adding up in that comparison lol
Surprised the Sharks didn’t just cut him loose. This is a very marginal player.
probably have to or should wait until after the suspension is up.
30 days is ridiculous. Everyone deserves 3 strikes, even the Felons get that. I don’t know if there is a standard rule for 1st offense, 2nd, 3rd, but there should be. Everyone should be treated equal regardless of race. Every incident is different and if you apologize and make amends, serve your punishment, then you should be forgiven.
Agree.
He’s lucky to even be employed.
Yeah, we should probably deprive him of sustenance because he used a bad word.
To those without sin, cast the first stone.
That is why it is 30 games. You are a POS. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I apologize.