The NHL is currently celebrating "Hockey Is For Everyone Month" which is described as a campaign by the league that emphasizes inclusion, which is ironic in its own right being that hockey was invented by freed and escapee black civilians in Canada but, that's another story for the masses to educate themselves on.

Last night, the Washington Capitals took on the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in Chicago which resulted in a 7-1 win for the Blackhawks but, not before fans in attendance at the game caused quite the amount of controversy.

Capitals forward, Devante Smith-Pelly was sent to the penalty box after a fight eight minutes and 36 seconds into the third and final period. Shortly after taking his seat in the box, four fans next to the glass began to chant, 'Basketball! Basketball! Basketball!' in his direction.

Smith-Pelly approached the fans and exchanged several words with them before the off-ice official in the penalty box contacted arena security after verifying the racially motivated taunts and had them removed from the game entirely.

Heckling is a part of hockey just like in any other sport but, no one should have to deal with racially-charged chants and taunts while entertaining those in attendance. Respect to Devante Smith-Pelly for keeping his composure and holding it down in the NHL as well as the off-ice official that had the bigoted hockey fans removed from the game.

Source: deadspin.com