‘Inappropriate and unacceptable’ language used at GOHL game between Stratford and London teams

A stock photo shows a hockey puck on ice.

A player for the Greater Ontario Hockey League’s London National’s team was subjected to “inappropriate and unacceptable” language during Monday’s game with Stratford’s Hunter Steel Warriors.

In an official statement, the Hunter Steel Warriors said they were “aware of an incident involving inappropriate and unacceptable language directed at an opposing player.”

The team did not specify what was said, but the league confirmed someone was removed from the game. In the taped broadcast of the game, arena staff could be heard calling for security to remove someone from the stands. Jason Clarke, the Stratford team’s director of hockey operations, said the interaction happened between an spectator and a London player. He said a group of people were escorted out of the game by security.

“We want to be unequivocally clear: there is no place in our game, our arena, or our community for racist or discriminatory language of any kind. This behaviour does not reflect the values of our organization, our players, or the vast majority of our fans,” the statement posted on the Warrior’s social media pages said.

Clarke also sent CTV News part of a message sent to the London Nationals.

“We are truly sorry that you were subjected to this behaviour. There is no place in our game or our community for language of that nature, and you deserved better in that moment. We have great respect for you as a player and for how you represent your team, and we regret that your experience in our building fell short of the standard we expect and strive to uphold,” the message said.

London’s response

The London Nationals responded to the incident with a statement of their own on Tuesday. The team said they appreciated how the Warriors handled the situation.

“Stratford is a longstanding and respected organization within our league, and we value the relationship between our teams, players and communities.”

They also said the Nationals were committed to promoting respect, inclusivity and accountability.

“It is important to recognize that the actions of one individual do not reflect an entire organization, its players or its fanbase,” the London team wrote.

The league also said the situation was handled in accordance with their expectations and game-day protocols.

“The GOHL takes all incidents of this nature seriously. We remain committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and positive environment for players, staff, officials and fans. As part of our standard process,