A coach and two players have been suspended over the video taped incident in which players directed racial taunts at a 17-year-old black player from Amherst.
Cheektowaga Town Councilman Brian Pilarski issued a statement Sunday stating there is “zero tolerance” for that type of behavior and that the suspensions are in place for the remainder of the season.
“The monkey sounds and comments towards an African American player of the Amherst hockey team are disturbing, unacceptable, and are completely at odds with who we are as a town,” Pilarski said.
“We assure our residents, the Amherst hockey team and others that timely and appropriate steps were taken … to address this situation in accordance with the policies outlined in our partnership with the Western New York Amateur Hockey League,” he said.
The ongoing investigations, Pilarski said, are intended to “hold anyone else involved accountable for their actions and prevent this from happening in the future.”
Full statement from Councilmember Pilarski:
The monkey sounds and comments towards an African American player of the Amherst hockey team are disturbing, unacceptable, and are completely at odds with who we are as a Town.
There is zero tolerance for anything like those actions described. Cheektowaga remains committed to ensuring that all youth thrive in an environment where they feel safe, welcomed and respected.
We can confirm that the two players and the assistant coach are suspended the rest of the season.
We assure our residents, the Amherst hockey team and others that timely and appropriate steps were taken by the Town of Cheektowaga Recreation Department to address this situation in accordance with the policies outlined in our partnership with the Western New York Amateur Hockey League.
This situation will continue to be investigated by the Western New York Amateur Hockey League and Town of Cheektowaga so we can hold anyone else involved accountable for their actions and prevent this from happening again in the future. Further action may come after a full investigation by both the Town of Cheektowaga and Western New York Amateur Hockey League is completed.
