Support pours in for 13-year-old hockey player who wrote letter of resignation
Abbotsford player alleges teammates targeted him with racial slurs and other bullying behaviour
An Abbotsford hockey player who wrote a resignation letter to his coaches detailing how he was bullied, is now receiving an overwhelming amount of support, according to his father.
"It's definitely turned a really negative experience into a positive one for him," said Garrett Ladd.
Ladd shared his son's letter on social media over the weekend. In it, the 13-year-old writes that he was the target of insulting slurs and treated meanly by some of his teammates.
"They make me feel like I don't belong in hockey," he wrote.
A letter sent to Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association families on Feb 10 stated an investigation had been launched. It also said the board of directors would not be commenting on the situation.
1 game suspension
According to Ladd, the bullying started early in the season and escalated. When the problem was brought to the team's coaches, one boy was suspended for one game. Lad claims the bullying behaviour carried on.
"You know these are the kinds of issues that don't just go away because you tell people to stop. You need to actively ensure that the situation isn't going on anymore," he said.
Ladd said since posting the letter on Facebook, his son has received notes of support from other players and hockey teams, including the Chilliwack Chiefs Junior A team.
He said an equal number of parents have reached out to him privately to share similar stories about their children being bullied in hockey.
"These people are not wanting their information out there," he said. "Unfortunately, the reasoning behind that is because of the intimidation that they face at the hands of the association they're dealing with."
A request to speak to members of the Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association executive was not responded to.