A fight broke out between spectators of the game between the U18 Sagkeeng Hawks, a Manitoba First Nation team, and the Habs de La Broquerie, at the Sagkeeng Multiplex Arena, on Sunday, November 10. According to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the violence is rooted in racism against Indigenous people.
The tension at the edge of the ice largely overshadowed the sporting issue and the Habs’ narrow victory, 8 to 7.
Roxane Dupuis, spectator and mother of a La Broquerie player, indicates that the fight broke out after the players returned to the locker room.
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Roxane Dupuis is the mother of a player on the La Broquerie U 18 team. She witnessed the violence on the evening of November 10 at the Sagkeeng Arena.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Antoine Brière
It was quite peaceful at first, explains Roxane Dupuis. Spectators from both teams, on opposite sides of the ice during the game, then headed to the entrance hall at the end of the game.
We could hear what sounded like people talking to each other in very loud voices. As they got closer to us, it was obvious there was a confrontation, she said. It seemed like seconds to me, but in reality it was probably several minutes, it was chaotic.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Powerview were called to the arena at 8:55 p.m., as specified by its spokesperson, Paul Manaigre.
It was reported that a fight broke out between parents and hockey players. It was interrupted, and no arrests were made due to the number of people involved and the differences in the stories provided to police, Paul Manaigre said by email.
He adds that Powerview RCMP are analyzing the video to determine if charges are warranted.
Racist violence
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is considering filing a complaint over violence that interim Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy calls racist.
We ourselves, when we were young, experienced racism and, unfortunately, it still happens.
The context amplifies his dismay. It’s surprising that this happens in our sports where young people are involved. This really has no place anywhere in Manitoba.
In a press release, the president of the La Broquerie junior hockey team, Candace Morrow, said she takes the problem seriously. We unequivocally condemn any form of violence, racism or disrespectful behavior. Such acts have no place in our sport or our community, and they directly oppose our core values of respect, inclusion and fair play.
With information from Antoine Brière and Zubina Ahmed
