Dear @jessieraeallen @TheSocialCTV

I hope you know the cost of your words yesterday.
You told the country that hockey players are “A certain type of person. White boys who aren’t very nice. Not generally thoughtful. They were often bullies.” Your words
had consequences. 1/

I am the proud mom of a hockey player. A hockey player who does happen to be white, as per your rant, but is also kind, thoughtful, loving, dedicated and passionate about his favourite game - hockey.

Your words affected him. 2/

When a clip of your take on hockey in Canada played on the radio yesterday, you made my 11 year old goalie feel ashamed of himself. He felt ashamed of his skin. He questioned his own sense of worth. He wondered if he was BAD. 3/

We are a household where sweeping generalizations are avoided at all costs. We believe in learning from all types of people, even when - no, ESPECIALLY when they think differently than ourselves. I had to explain to my child that you had failed to do this. 4/

You failed to take the steps to learn the basics of what a hockey community looks like. Hockey helps lift us out of the cultural bubble you referred to. Through hockey, our family has had the opportunity to meet amazing people frm amazing cultures very different than our own. 5/

Rather than polarizing differences, hockey (like many sports) is an equalizer. The idea of putting team before self, of being a great teammate, is something that hockey can teach our most impressionable young people. 6/

I am sure that you did not wake up yesterday morning intending on painting an entire group of people with a singular dark and ugly brush. I am sure you didn’t want to make innocent, GOOD children feel ashamed of themselves. 7/

For ourselves and our hockey playing son, we will use your ugly words and negativity as a learning experience. We will strive to be better. We will ensure that we are never “the kind of people” you made us out to be. 8/

We will assure our son that HE is the master of his own destiny, not the person commenting on his morals because of the colour of his skin and the game he happens to love. We will remind him again of how privileged he is to be able to live this life and play this great game. 9/

I am sure that you’re facing a difficult amount of venom on SM today. The sad fact is that hate begets hate. When discussing this with our son, we told him that you’d likely have a hard day today, and would be facing some personal attacks on SM b/c of your hurtful words. 10/

My hockey player’s response to this
“I hope someone hugs @jessieraeallen today. She’ll need a good hug.”

I think that says everything.