The suspended players will undergo sensitivity training.

The Los Angeles Jr. Kings (LAJK) of the 14U Bantam AAA hockey announced the suspensions of 15 players and three coaches from the team. The drastic action was taken after video footage emerged on social media of a player giving the Nazi salute as other hockey players made anti-Semitic remarks. The suspensions were announced on March 29.

The concerned video was nine seconds in length and players can be heard asking each other whether they are Nazis and making derogatory comments about Jews. Every incident captured in the video violated USA Hockey SafeSport rules of conduct. There was no doubt that the players caught in the video making such slurs are members of Los Angeles Jr. Kings. The video was subjected to a detailed LAJK investigation. The result was the suspension of 15 members of the team and three offending coaches. All who were suspended will be barred from events at LA Jr. Kings and Toyota Sports Center. They will not be permitted to take part in activities connected to LAJK.

The LAJK has communicated to all its suspended players and coaches that one part of their suspension will involve a mandatory educational program. The program includes social media and sensitivity training for conducting an impactful and positive youth education. The LAJK said that it has always regarded itself as a club which is proud to be a part of the community, fostering values like teamwork, friendship, respect, and equality.

These are young people who made a mistake, but fortunately it’s early enough in their lives that they can still learn and make a difference and become, instead of proponents of hate, apostles for tolerance and human dignity-Rabbi Marvin Hier @JrKingsHockey https://t.co/3cXEFOyw69 — SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) April 3, 2019

Even the ice isn't safe from #Antisemitism Why do these teen players think this ok? Who modeled this behavior? https://t.co/luv7DyVGje — Robert Trestan (@rtrestan) April 3, 2019

According to Steve Yovetich, the president of LAJK, the events which took place on March 9 were a source of regret to many club members and even those who are outside the club. In his statement, he assured that club members would work in tandem to educate players and help them to grow. The club will also initiate action to make sure that such incidences are not repeated. He assured that LAJK would cooperate in all matters so that the best SafeSport investigation. He pointed out that the club harbors no tolerance for any SafeSport violation.

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