White hockey player suspended for racial slur against black player

Jet, Dec 22, 1997

For the second time this season a player for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League (NHL) has been suspended for uttering a racial slur at a Black player.

The Capitals Craig Berube was suspended for one game without pay for calling the Florida Panthers rookie winger, Peter Worrell, a "monkey" during an on-ice scuffle during a game. It was Worrell's second game as a pro.

Berube's salary of $7,300 went to the NHL's emergency assistance fund.

Before the suspension Worrell said he had accepted Berube's apology.

"He gave his heartfelt apology," he said. "He's a human being. He made a mistake. I have a lot of respect for him as a man that he went out of his way to make an apology to me."

The incident was the second time within a month that a Capitals player was suspended for hurling racial insults at a Black player. Chris Simon was suspended for three games for a racial slur against the Edmonton Oilers Mike Grier.

Both Simon and Berube are American Indians.