The legal commission of the ICE Hockey League banned Tadej Cimzar and Miha Zajc for ten games each and also imposed a fine of 3,000 euros per person. The Ljubljana duo was sanctioned for “monkey gestures” to the address of the dark-skinned VSV defender Derek Joslin. “Racist behavior is unacceptable and intolerable in all respects,” said the league.
Joslin described the experience as “absolutely sad”, especially because the Slovenes later rejected a racist gesture. There was also no apology. He is relying on “that the league will take this offensive behavior seriously, act accordingly and hold people accountable”.
The 34-year-old Canadian thanked his team, Villacher SV, for their support. “Professional hockey was everything I have lived and breathed in the past 15 years. But I’ve never had to experience anything like it.”
Source: Nachrichten
