The Owen Sound Sun Times e-edition

Harvard hockey coach under fire for comments

SASKATOON The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations wants Harvard Crimson women's ice hockey coach Katey Stone to resign.

Stone reportedly made racist comments to players, including two Indigenous Canadians.

According to the Boston Globe, Stone accused players of lacking respect and that the squad was a group of skaters “with too many chiefs and not enough Indians” after putting a stop to a practice during the 2021-22 season.

“I am just disgusted at the statements that were made. It's totally disrespectful to our people and of course to our youth,” FSIN vice chief Heather Bear told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. “In our mind, she has no place in hockey.”

FSIN sent a letter to Harvard's athletic department requesting the dismissal of Stone.

“I don't even care about discipline right now at this point. She should just be let go,” Bear said.

The Boston Globe reported Indigenous players Maryna Macdonald of Ditidaht First

Nation, B.C., and Taze Thompson, a member of Métis Nation Alberta and Okanagan Indian Band, B.C., left the team.

Thompson, the daughter of Philadelphia Flyers assistant coach Rocky Thompson, played two years at Harvard before switching to Northeastern this season. The 20-year-old forward was the Ivy League's rookie of the year in 2020-21.

Macdonald told the Boston Globe Stone looked her in the eye when she made the remark.

“I had learned to navigate a lot of her toxic environment,” Macdonald said. “But now she was disrespecting me and my family and my heritage in front of everybody.”

The Globe said Macdonald and Thompson were among 14 recruited players who have left Stone's program since 2016.

The newspaper also said former Crimson captain Sydney Daniels of Mistawasis Nehiyawak First Nation, Sask., is suing Harvard for alleged racial discrimination related to Stone and the athletic department.

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2023-02-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

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