The Red Deer Rebels have answered to a critical social media post alleging misconduct Wednesday.
Late Tuesday, posts on Twitter surfaced on the account of former NHLer Daniel Carcillo, who has in recent years become a staunch advocate for fair treatment of players.
The tweet in question implicated that underage drinking, young men dressing as women, physical, verbal and sexual abuse happened at a rookie party. A photo of the party, showing young men in dresses, was included in the tweet.
According to the tweet, the WHL and Hockey Canada were made aware of the conduct and “nothing was done bc (sic) it involved the Sutter name.”
Underage drinking, dressing young men as women & physical, verbal & sexual abuse happened at the pictured rookie party
— Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) November 27, 2019
The @TheWHL & @HockeyCanada was made aware of it & nothing was done bc it involved the Sutter name
DM me for more info if you want the full story#hockeyabuse pic.twitter.com/byTK9w8FXl
Accompanying the tweet is what appears to be a message in which the WHL and the Sutter’s are implicated.
The @Rebelshockey have released a statement in regards to the following photos, posted to Dan Carcillo’s social media last night. Below are the screenshots of rhe photos and team’s statement. #Rebels #WHL pic.twitter.com/go9NcgFLV0
— Byron Hackett (@RDAbyronhackett) November 27, 2019
Wednesday, the team issued the following statement:
“Brent Sutter – Owner, Governor, President, General Manager and Head Coach of the Red Deer Rebels – and the Western Hockey League, take matters of this nature very seriously,” the statement read.
“The Red Deer Rebels Hockey Club have reviewed the photograph shared on social media and have indicated to the WHL they do not believe any individuals depicted in the photograph are former members of the Red Deer Rebels.
“The WHL is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for all WHL players.
“The WHL has a zero tolerance policy on all forms of abuse, bullying, harassment and hazing. The policy applies to all individuals associated directly or indirectly with the operation of a member Club or the League.”
All this stemmed from a conversation online about the mistreatment of players, past and present by coaches. Last week, a story came to light about former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock and his questionable decision to ask then-rookie Mitch Marner to call out the work habits of his teammates. Earlier this week, allegations from Akim Aliu against Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters.
Not very surprising the things we’re hearing about Babcock. Apple doesn’t fall far from the Tree, same sort of deal with his protege in YYC. Dropped the N bomb several times towards me in the dressing room in my rookie year because he didn’t like my choice of music. First one to
— Akim Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) November 26, 2019
Aliu alleged that in 2010, while playing for the Rockford Ice Hogs of the AHL, where Peters was the coach, that he issued a racial slur in calling out the music choice of Aliu. Several former players corroborated Aliu’s story. Peters is still employed by the Flames and is awaiting the results of the investigation by the NHL.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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