Team Canada rises above racist comment, wins world ball hockey championship

The goaltender for Canada’s world champion inferior men’s shot lucky squad says he utilized a racist remark arsenic “fuel” to thief powerfulness nan squad to its golden badge win.

Canada’s U-16 and U-18 ball hockey teams were successful Žilina, Slovakia past week to compete successful nan International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBF) tournament.

The teams were excited to compete, but nan arena sewage disconnected to an disfigured commencement astatine nan opening ceremonies. When U-18 squad goaltender Aalamdaya Singh Kailay was selected arsenic Team Canada’s flag-bearer, subordinate from different squad decried nan choice.

“A U-16 squad USA player, personification who was opinionated correct there, commented: ‘You’re not moreover from Canada.'”

U-18 coach Jon Silcox said respective Team Canada players heard nan remark and it put a damper connected nan commencement of nan tournament.

“It’s unfortunate it still happens to this day, and hopefully we tin make a alteration and we tin amended nan situation for lucky and lucky players,” Silcox said.

Kailay said he initially shrugged nan remark off.

“I was much focused connected my team, I was much focused connected nan boys, I was much focused connected my state than immoderate dumb comment,” he said.

After Team Canada hit Team USA successful overtime successful nan past crippled of nan tournament’s round-robin phase, he said he re-thought nan situation. And erstwhile Canada had to spell up against nan U.S. again successful nan golden badge game, he leaned connected it.

“I decidedly utilized that remark arsenic fuel,” nan goaltender said. “I was like, ‘You cognize what, it’s clip to unopen up these haters, let’s spell triumph this gold.'”

Kailay fto successful conscionable 1 extremity arsenic he backstopped his Canadian squad to a 5-1  triumph complete Team USA.

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“He’s an unbelievable person, he is everything that models nan Team Canada programme and nan Canadia Ball Hockey Association,” Silcox said of nan netminder. “He’s a world-class athlete, a world-class teammate, ever a grin connected his look and conscionable a agleam young man.”

Silcox said a title complete nan remark has been lodged pinch nan ISBF, and he trusts nan statement will return due action.

Kailay said winning nan cup was an unforgettable feeling.

“It was huge, not conscionable for maine but for nan remainder of nan squad — it intends a batch arsenic a Canadian, particularly because lucky is specified a immense portion of being Canadian,” he said.

As for nan disfigured comment, and nan wider problem of racism successful hockey, Kailay had immoderate proposal for others who find themself successful a akin situation.

“My connection to parents and different players would be: Actions are louder than words. Go retired there, show them connected nan floor, connected nan court, connected nan crystal really bully you are. Don’t return those words to heart.”

“I showed them what it is to beryllium a Canadian, and that’s a champion.”

Canada’s U-16 besides claimed gold, defeating its Slovakian hosts successful a 6-5 overtime thriller.