Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
Where were you on January 2nd, 2016 ?
If you were with me, you were at the Harry Lumley-Bayshore Community Centre watching the Oshawa Generals score a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win over the Owen Sound Attack.
Trailing 4-2 going to the 3rd period, the Generals rallied to tie the game and win it in overtime when a rookie defenceman who was + 4 on the night scored the overtime winner.
That player ?
Jalen Smereck.
That night, I doubt anyone in the Owen Sound crowd knew, or cared, that Smereck is black. Rather, what they did see was a mobile and fleet young Oshawa player and what most people cared about was the Attack blew a 2 goal lead.
Five and a half years later, Smereck was playing in the Ukraine when an on ice scrum escalated into a nasty incident in which a player named Andrei Denyskin made a racial gesture at Smereck.
Denyskin was suspended for 3 games, which was mandatory for receiving a match penalty, and was given an additional 10-game ban, which is the maximum allowable under the Ukrainian rules
The reaction was swift, and loud, from all corners stating the banishment wasn’t nearly enough, which is accurate and commendable in my view.
It seems to me, in a case like this, hockey, and perhaps in other sports, they talk the talk. But when the situation arises, especially in a flagrant and disgusting scenario like this incident, the punishment does precious little to affect the change that is needed in the sport on a global basis.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.