Wayne Simmonds believes the fans who heckled Devante Smith-Pelly of the Washington Capitals with a racist chant in Chicago on Saturday night shouldn't be allowed to attend another NHL game.
On Sunday, the Philadelphia Flyers forward lamented the incident and suggested further punishment for the culprits in a reply to the Capitals' tweet sharing Smith-Pelly's response:
Pretty embarrassing that this still happens. Doesn't shock me though which is the saddest part of all. Those ppl should be banned from every rink in the NHL #ignorance @NHL @NHLBlackhawks
— Wayne Simmonds (@Simmonds17) February 19, 2018
The fans repeatedly chanted "basketball" at Smith-Pelly while he was in the penalty box Saturday night during a game against the Blackhawks. They were later ejected.
Capitals head coach Barry Trotz showed support for Smith-Pelly afterwards, and said the chanting was "disgusting."
The Capitals, Blackhawks, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman all condemned the incident in separate statements.
Simmonds, who like Smith-Pelly is black, has also endured racism during his career. While playing in the Czech Republic during the 2012-13 lockout, an opposing team was fined after its fans directed racist insults towards him, and a fan in London, Ont., was fined for throwing a banana at him during an exhibition game on Sept. 22, 2011.
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