Hockey world up in arms over Andri Denyskin suspension
A Ukrainian Hockey League suspension for a player who made a racist gesture towards an opposing player is under fire from the hockey community for not being stiff enough.
The league announced a 13-game suspension for Andri Denyskin Wednesday morning to go along with a 50,000 Ukrainian hryvnias fine ($2,386 CAD, $1880 USD).
It was a suspension that came days after Denyskin, a forward for HC Kremenchuk, taunted HC Donbass defenseman Jalen Smercek, a Black man, by mimicking peeling a banana and eating it.
In a statement on Twitter Wednesday, HC Donbass demanded a reconsideration of the ruling.
“$1870 for racism?! For racist actions towards Donbass player @jalen_smereck, Kremenchuk player Andrey Deniskin (sp) was disqualified for three matches,” the tweet read. “Deniskin was also given 10 matches of an additional disqualification or fine $1870. We demand a reconsideration of the decision!”
Smereck followed up with a Tweet of his own, “……..,” he wrote.
Initial reports Wednesday suggested that Denyskin would have the option of paying a fine instead of serving 10 of the games of the suspension, however, that was further clarified by TSN’s Gord Miller.
Deniskin was assessed an automatic 3 game suspension for receiving a match penalty. In addition, he was given a 10 game suspension for violating the Code of Conduct (10 games is the maximum allowable, that rule will be reviewed at the end of the season). He was also fined.
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) September 29, 2021The report from the game has been forwarded to @IIHFHockey. To be clear, the IIHF cannot alter the league suspension, but it can bar Deniskin, who plays for the national team, from playing internationally for as long as it chooses.
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) September 29, 2021Pressure is mounting on the International Ice Hockey Federation, who could still hand out further punishment to Denyskin for the gesture, to do so. On Monday, IIHF president Luc Tardif said there was no place in sport, or society for such gestures.
“The IIHF condemns in the strongest possible terms the actions of Andri Denyskin,” said Tardif. “There is no place for such a blatantly racist and unsportsmanlike gesture in our sport and in society.
“This a direct assault on the ideals and values of our game, and we will ensure that all necessary ethics violation investigations occur to ensure that this behaviour is sanctioned appropriately.”
Reaction around the hockey community has been swift in condemning how inconsequential the ban from the UHL is.
“This is a complete embarrassment,” wrote Hockey Diversity Alliance chair Akim Aliu on Twitter Wednesday. “How are we as POC (people of colour) ever supposed to trust the system when at every turn it fails to protect us. On and OFF the ice.”
This is a complete embarrassment. How are we as POC ever supposed to trust the system when at every turn it fails to protect us. On and OFF the ice. https://t.co/Fla5Dldcd2
— Akim Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) September 29, 2021Smercek announced this week he would be taking a personal leave of absence from HC Donbass and that he wouldn’t play another game in the UHL until Denyskin “is suspended and removed from the league.”
The 24-year-old native of Detroit, Michigan, Smereck signed an entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes in 2016 and played in their system until this season. In three UHL games, Smereck had scored one goal and three assists.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.