Ukrainian Hockey League fires GM after he condemns racism

There has been plenty made over the past week regarding a disgusting incident that took place in the Ukrainian Hockey League (UHL) between Andrey Deniskin and Jalen Smereck.

In case anyone happened to miss it, Deniskin made an extremely crude racial gesture towards Smereck, who is a black hockey player. Since it has been made public, many from the hockey community have condemned the gesture, and were appalled by the leagues decision to only suspend Deniskin for 13 games. One of those individuals who was and continues to be irate about the decision is Eugene Kolychev, who was the general manager of their league and had a role similar to Gary Bettman's with the NHL. According to Kolychev, he was fired on Thursday by the league for condemning the actions of Deniskin.

«I have spoken openly about racism in Ukrainian hockey and the Ukrainian Hockey Federation FIRED me as General Manager of the UHL today,» Kolychev wrote on a tweet. «Will it solve the problem? No. Will it silence me? NO!

«My voice has been ignored in the decision over the penalty against Andrei Deniskin, who showed a racist gesture to Jalen Smereck. I am publicly appealing to IIHF Hockey to conduct its own investigation of the incident and help end racism. Jalen, we got your back.»

It is unfortunate to see Kolychev have to lose his job over this, but you have to respect his ability to not only stand up for what he believes in, but what is right. Hopefully his decision to speak out on this ugly situation will force both the league and the IIHF to review this situation over and hand out a much stiffer punishment for Deniskin, as he certainly deserves one after his unforgiveable behaviour.

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