(Photo: Kaicee Trott)
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs proudly unveiled a new banner that will hang in the Multiplex for the balance of the BCHL regular season.
The fifty foot banner reads “Racism has no place in hockey.”
Club president David Michaud was proud to add the banner to the Multiplex, especially considering the events of the last week in both the American Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League. “Port Alberni has a diverse population and I want our players and fans to feel supported, and know that our organization stands with them. As an organization, we’re proud of the efforts our players have made in the community.”
Bulldogs Assistant Coach Wacey Rabbit is a proud Blackfoot from the Kainai First Nation of Treaty 7. He recently shared some of his experience growing up in minor hockey with the Bulldogs players. Rabbit and his wife Ashley Callingbull have been instrumental in helping the Bulldogs players get involved in the community. Bulldogs players helped Wacey and Ashley deliver 300 meals prior to Christmas on the Tseshaht First Nation and the players joined Wacey and Ashley for a march during National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“Having Wacey join the Bulldogs from a hockey perspective was a great choice by Joe Martin. Having Wacey join our organization from a human standpoint has been invaluable” said Michaud. “I’m grateful to both Wacey and Ashley for how they got our players involved in such meaningful events and I know our players appreciate it as well.”
The slogan “Racism has no place in hockey” came from the Hockey Diversity Alliance’s launch of their Tape Out Hate Campaign. To learn more about the Hockey Diversity Alliance and their efforts, please visit https://hockeydiversityalliance.org
