San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik was suspended for 30 games by the American Hockey League on Friday for a racist gesture he directed at Boko Imama of the Tucson Roadrunners during a Jan. 12 game between the two teams at SAP Center.
Hrabik appeared to be mimicking an ape toward Imama, who is Black.
An AHL spokesman said the league was made aware of the gesture in the on-ice officials' report after Jan. 12 game at SAP Center. Hrabik was suspended for the Barracuda's past three games pending a review, which concluded Thursday.
Hrabik, 22, a Czech Republic native in his second full season in the Sharks' minor league system, would be eligible to return April 3 if the Barracuda's schedule remains the same but it appears his status with the team is tenuous at best.
The Barracuda, the Sharks' top minor league affiliate, said in a statement that both organizations "were appalled to learn of this incident. We offer our sincerest apologies to Boko, the Roadrunners organization, the AHL, our fans, and the entire hockey community."
Hrabik, listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, signed a one-year contract extension with the Barracuda in June. He has played a combined 22 games with the Barracuda, mostly as a depth centerman, and 33 games in the ECHL. He first moved to North America in 2018 and played two seasons with Tri-City of the WHL.
The Barracuda's statement continued, "While we support the ability for individuals to atone and learn from disrespectful incidents in this context, these actions are in direct opposition to the Barracuda and Sharks organizations' values."
The only AHL suspension on record that was longer than Hrabik's was handed to Alexander Perezhogin for a stick-swinging incident on Garrett Stafford in 2004. Perezhogin was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs, plus the entire 2004-05 season.
The AHL, in its statement announcing the suspension, said it "believes that individual inclusion learning is a key element of improving league-wide culture. As part of the suspension, Hrabik will be given a chance to work with the NHL's Player Inclusion Committee "to participate in education and training on racism and inclusion."
Hrabik may apply to AHL's President and CEO Scott Howson for a reduction to the suspension and reinstatement after March 12. Any reduction in the suspension would be "based on an evaluation of his progress in the necessary education and training with the Player Inclusion Committee," according to the league's statement.
"The AHL stands with Boko Imama," Howson said in the statement. "It is unfair that any player should be subjected to comments or gestures based on their race; they should be judged only on their ability to perform as a player on the ice, as a teammate in the locker room and as a member of their community."
Hrabik was originally signed by the Barracuda in October 2019 and has four points in 21 games this season.
This is the second racist incident that Imama, 25, has been subjected to in the last two years.
In Jan. 2020 as a member of the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, Imama had a racist slur directed toward him from Brandon Manning in a game with the Bakersfield Condors. Manning, now playing professionally in Germany, was given a game misconduct and suspended by the AHL for five games.
Sharks coach Bob Boughner, who does not have a history with either Hrabik or Imama, said he was disappointed to learn of Hrabik's actions.
"I support the AHL's decision," Boughner said. "It's disappointing and we condemn it, and there's no place in the game for it. Hopefully, everybody can earn from this and move forward instead of backward."
