Hockey player Krystof Hrabik gets 30-game suspension for directing racist gesture at another AHL player

3:26 PM

The American Hockey League suspended Krystof Hrabik for 30 games after he made a racist gesture towards the Tucson Roadrunners.

According to a source, Hrabik mimicked the movements of a monkey in a taunting gesture towards Imama, who is Black. The players on the Roadrunners bench saw the taunting, and Hrabik was confronted on the ice by Tucson's Travis Barron.

Hrabik was removed from all team activities during the investigation by the American Hockey League.

Hrabik missed three games during the investigation.

Scott Howson, president and CEO of the AHL, said in a statement that the organization stood with the woman. It's unfair that a player should be judged 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, when they're not judged on their race.

As part of the suspension, Hrabik will be given a chance to work with the NHL's Player Inclusion Committee, which is run by NHL executive Kim Davis and co-chaired by P.K. Subban and Anson Carter.

Hrabik will be able to participate in education and training on racism and inclusion. After missing 21 games, he can apply to the American Hockey League for his return, but a decision will be based on an evaluation of his progress in the necessary education and training.

The San Jose Sharks and The Barracuda apologized to Imama and the entire hockey community.

The team supports the ability for individuals to atone and learn from disrespectful incidents, but these actions are against the values of the organizations.

Imama was drafted by the Lightning in the 180th round. After four years with the Los Angeles Kings, the winger signed with the Arizona Coyotes.

This is the second time in two years that a player has been suspended for a racial taunting. Brandon Manning was suspended for five games in January 2020 for using a racial slur.

Imama spoke about racism in hockey after an incident in the Ukrainian Hockey League in which Andriy Deniskin pantomimed peeling and eating a banana toward a black player.

"I think it's hurting the sport because I think if it was more diverse, if everyone was more included, I feel like it would touch a bigger audience and it would just be better for the sport," Imama told the Arizona Republic at the time. It's unfortunate for everyone when things like that happen.