CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — The New York State Amateur Hockey Association will conduct a hearing in the next week, after a player on an Amherst Knights team says he was taunted because of his race.
The action comes following a complaint by Dr. Darren Brown-Hall, Ed.D about the way his son, Roshaun, was treated during the youth hockey game on January 20th in the Northtown Center at Amherst. During the January 20th game against the Cheektowaga Warriors, Roshaun was called a "monkey" and taunted with monkey-like sounds, said his father.
The hearing to address disciplinary issues will be held in the next week to 10 days, as per the rules and regulations of the NYSAHA and USA Hockey. Playoffs for the 18U house league were canceled, and the league is still determining whether or not those games will be rescheduled.
After controversy surrounding how the investigation into the incident was handled, David Braunstein, the West Section President for the New York State Amateur Hockey Association (NYSAHA) submitted his immediate resignation. He had been in the position for 19 years. The NYSAHA said in a statement that his resignation leaves a hole in the hockey community.
You can read our previous reporting on what happened during the game here.
Here's the full statement given to 7 Eyewitness News by the NYSAHA:
March 19, 2019
NYSAHA will be taking the following actions to address the issues brought forward from the Amherst - Cheektowaga 18U game that took place on January 20, 2019:
1) NYSAHA will address immediate discipline issues and conduct a hearing in the next week to ten days as per the applicable rules and regulations of both NYSAHA and USA Hockey. That is in the process of being implemented.
2) The West Section Alternate President as per NYSAHA rules, has assumed the position of West Section President until the West Section Spring Meeting is held, at which Meeting the regularly scheduled elections for both positions will be held.
3) With regard to the playoff games that were canceled by the WNYAHL, it is the within the league's discretion whether to reschedule the games.
It should be noted that David Braunstein has served NYSAHA for over 20 years, the last 19 of which he was West Section President. He has served as a volunteer throughout, generously and with distinction, all the time juggling work and family commitments. His resignation leaves a hole in our Hockey community while at the same time losing a close and valued family member.
