Hockey was never going to eradicate its racism problem instantly

It would be easy to say it was just another weekend in hockey. The NHL's two minor league dealt with racist incidents.

This is ingrained in hockey right now, and has been for the entire sport. There are people operating in every facet of the game, and they aren't simply going away because we want them to. They will either have to be weeded out or shamed back into the dark corners.

The process will be unpleasant.

During a game in San Jose on January 12th, Krystof Hrabik made a monkey gesture at Boko Imama. His teammates were quick to point it out to officials. While 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 800-313-5780 He will be able to return this season, but it seems like his career in the American Hockey League is over. It's unlikely anyone else will take a chance on a player from which you don't gain anything.

Imama has been through this before and it is heartbreaking. Two years ago it was Brandon Manning, who had played in the NHL before. He was suspended for five games.

This was not an isolated incident. Jordan Subban, the youngest brother of P.K. and Malcolm, was subjected to the same gestures by Jacob Panetta in the ECHL. There was a video of this one.

It was impossible to ignore the symbolism of Panetta waiting until Subban's back was turned, linesmen between the two, to mimic a monkey, showing the cowardice of racists everywhere. It is easy when you don't face a threat. It didn't save Panetta from getting punched repeatedly by Subban when he turned around, or from sinking into being the ignorant coward that he is. Panetta was released by his team, Jacksonville, and it is hard to see where he will land again.

It is sobering for the entire hockey world to see how prevalent this problem is in the game. It seems like something out of the 40s or 50s when we see this kind of thing in European soccer. We have not seen in-game incidents like this before. It has probably been going on at these levels but has not been reported or discussed for a number of reasons, but now there are cameras everywhere, social media everywhere, and the awareness is just that much higher. Hockey will do its best at every turn.

Minor league players are easier to target. What would the NHL do if it happened in its own league? Panetta and Hrabik lost their jobs. They should have. Would the NHL go far?

The process of cleaning the game is going to be ugly and ugly at times. This is a sport that is mostly populated by rich white kids from the burbs, or country kids from somewhere in SASK, or Eastern Europeans. They don't see people who don't look like them very often in these places and settings. There are no consequences for thoughts and jokes that wound because there is no one to explain why. Ignorance of morality is not an excuse. If hockey is going to exorcise these demons, this is what it will look like. Show everyone the punishments even if they are unpleasant.

Manning was suspended for just five games two years ago, just like Hrabik. Andrew Shaw sat for only one game after using a gay slur toward a ref in a playoff game, even though he had been teammates with Subban's brother the year prior. Morgan Rielly was reprimanded by the NHL for using the same slur.

The NHL as a whole still has a lot to prove, even though the lower levels of the American Hockey League are the lower levels. The two players lost their jobs. Hockey is not going to erase prejudiced and ignorant thoughts from players, coaches, fans, and executives. There was evil within. What the league can do is make it clear what will happen to those who bring it out into the open, which will make hockey even less welcoming for people with disabilities. This will not be the last time it happens. The swift response is progress.