Heated hockey game sparks a much-needed conversation about racism

Trigger warning: some of the details shared with EFN may be disturbing for some readers. 

A series of events during the second round of the Provincial “A” senior hockey playoffs has sparked a difficult conversation about racism in small-town Saskatchewan with leaders weighing in and promises on both sides to work together.

It all started when Round Lake Bears and the Wynyard Monarchs faced off in a best of three series.

The Bears hosted the first game at the Chief Denton George Memorial multiplex on the Ochapowace Cree Nation which is approximately two hours east of Regina. The Bears came back from a three goal deficit to win the game with a final score of 7-6.

With the first win under their belt, the Bears and many of their fans headed to Wynyard for Game 2. Wynyard is located about 2 hours north of Regina.

All 1,200 seats at the Co-operative Place ice rink were sold for the game.

What should have been a family-friendly sporting event took a dark turn.

“It was so uncomfortable, it became scary,” said Novalee Fox.

She currently lives on Ochapowace and is a social media influencer with a growing following on TikTok. Initially, she was excited to be at the game to cheer on her hometown team, but said from the very start the tension in the arena was palpable.

“It was everywhere,” said Fox.

Things escalated in the stands between the home team fans and the visitors. Those who were there to witness it allege the verbal attacks were racially motivated.

“I was shaking,” said Fox.  “They were mocking us and yelling racial slurs and personal insults.”

Some of the incidents were captured on phones and circulated on social media.

According to Fox, throughout the game, non-Indigenous people in the stands were routinely yelling and laughing in the faces of some of the Indigenous attendees.

She said it didn’t stop at the laughing and mocking instead it intensified.

Monarch’s fan called some Indigenous women “fat ugly b—-es”, while others were told they were “stinking up the arena.”

Fox, who is a natural redhead said people often don’t know she’s Indigenous.

As such, she overheard a lot of disparaging remarks directed toward the Indigenous attendees.  When a Bears player was hurt, she heard fans from the opposing team yell “f—ing kill him.”

In another incident, caught on video during the game a non-Indigenous man can be seen standing in a bleacher aisle, blocking some Indigenous people from returning to their seats while allowing non-Indigenous people to pass through.

It wasn’t one isolated incident but a series of incidents and that left Fox frustrated.

“They were trying to get a rise out of them, and as soon as they’d stick up for themselves, they’d try to get us kicked out, saying ‘Shut the f— up, you can’t talk to me like that in my rink, this isn’t the reserve,’ ” said Fox.

The police were in the arena for the duration of the game and were aware of the growing tensions, but did not intervene.

Fox wonders if other visiting teams are treated the same way by Wynyard fans.

The Monarchs won Game 2 with a final score of 4 -1.

The days following the game, many people began talking to one another and on social media.

The Wynyard Mayor Sigourney Hoytfox issued a public apology to Ochapowace community and to its hockey fans.

It states, in part:

The Town of Wynyard regrets the incidents that affected our Indigenous visitors that took place during the senior provincial hockey game at Co-operative Place on February 28. The Town is deeply sorry that what should have been a safe, welcoming event where everyone could enjoy a shared love of hockey was marred by ugly words and hurtful behaviours.

The Town of Wynyard is taking this situation very seriously. This behaviour has no place in our community. The incidents that took place have had a significant impact on our entire community.

Ochapowace Chief Shelley A. Bear was in attendance for the game.

By the end of the first period, she opted to leave the stands and watch the duration of the game from the TVs in the locker room.

“There were some comments (I heard) that I would construe as racist,” said Bear.  “With alcohol involved and high emotions, it got out of hand.”

A licensed bar is located on the second floor of the hockey arena.

Since the game, Bear has had a conversation with Mayor Hoytfox, who acknowledged the incidents at the game were racially motivated.

Although the incident was hurtful for those involved, the two leaders believe something good can come from it and want to explore ways to make it a teaching moment.

They want to work together on campaigns to address racism in sport, and how communities can have a better understanding of each other.

In Hoytfox’s statement, she said the town will take a number of actions going forward, including engaging with community partners, affected individuals, and the FSIN on how to make their facilities more welcoming; a review of their policies, procedures, programming, and safety plans including alcohol consumption and a code of conduct; and partnering with First Nations to provide learning opportunities including anti-discrimination and cultural understanding.

“For a mayor to address it, that was very welcome,” said Bear.

“I encourage more mayors and leaders to step up and acknowledge the racism that still exists in our society,” she said.

She would like to see more community events where culture and understanding can be shared.

Unfortunately, some of the online responses following the incident don’t reflect a  desire for unity.

Since posting about the incident on social media, Fox has received backlash including death threats and verbal attacks from anonymous accounts. She has taken screenshots and reported each of the threats.

However, she refuses to feed the negativity.

“We’re a forgiving people,” said Fox.

Her sentiment is shared by others.

A group of women from Wynyard reached out to Fox and expressed their desire to meet some of the Ochapowace members to discuss the incident and learn more positive ways to move forward.

“My friend, who was a victim, is kind and wants to help educate them,” said Fox. “She’s willing to help, she’s not about cancel culture. I think they’d really like us if they met us.”

Both Fox and Bear say racial tensions during sporting events is not uncommon.

Milton Tootoosis, a member of Poundmaker Cree Nation, and a staple in the business and hockey community in Saskatchewan, was not in attendance but said he is familiar with the behaviour reported at the Wynyard game.

“I’ve experienced it as a kid and throughout all my adult life,” said Tootoosis. “We learn to get through it – ignore it, put it on the back shelf, develop a thick skin.”

He said geopolitical norms tend to have an impact on the conduct at games – with incidences more common in rural areas.

“I think cultural diversity is often more accepted in urban centre (however) in rural areas, you feel those divisions,” he said.

When attending a sporting event, even in Saskatoon, Tootoosis feels the looks and glares he sometimes receives. With this being a not-uncommon occurrence, he said older generations need to continue to instill pride in their people.

“To the grandparents out there, ‘You have to stand firm and teach your children and grandchildren to stand tall and be proud of who they are.”

On March 2, Game 3 was back in Ochapowace. It was a do or die game for both teams. However, the Bears clinched the game at 32.9 seconds of the third period with a final score of 4-3.

The Bears are now in the semi-finals and their first of three games takes place tonight in Ochapowace where they will be coincidentally playing the Monarchs – but this time it’s the Lumsden Monarchs.

A full schedule is available online at https://hockeysask.ca/events/provincials/provincial-brackets/senior-a