A Winnipeg minor hockey player was sent to the bank for the end of his team’s season on Saturday after his parents filed a defamation demand that appointed a member of the Winnipeg Hockey Association (SWHA) of South as accused.
The association made the decision to suspend the child and his parents indefinitely, Elena Russo Russak and Russak Corey, of all activities related to the League on Thursday, after submitting a statement of claim at the King Manitoba Court Bank on Tuesday against Hiten Shah, vice president with the Hockey Association.
“It’s a heartbreaking at many levels,” Russo Russak said.
“It’s not even hockey. Each child deserves what they want to do and none of them must be penalized and used as a pawn,” he said.
The lawsuit alleges that the couple’s reputation has been damaged and their character has been challenged after Shah sent an email to 17 families in the team on December 23 who was “defamatory, false and declared himself maliciously” with the intention of belittling Russak and Russo Russak.
In his email, included in the lawsuit, Shah said the association investigated several concerns raised by team members, including a complaint that involves the couple.
The email pointed out that Russak and Russo Russak, who served as a team assistant and co-management coach, respectively, used an inappropriate language and made threats to address a coach after a game on December 14.
After interviewing three families who were present during the incident, it was discovered that parental misconduct occurred and both parents were stripped of their roles with the team, according to Shah’s email.
“They publicly fired us in an email that went to all parents,” Russak said. “We discovered when all other parents learned,” added Russo Russak.
Russak told CBC that he called the coach after the game to “stop banking the children” and shout them, but denied threatening or using an inappropriate language.
“I am trying to keep the children safe, that is my job, when you take these courses as an assistant coach,” Russak said.
CBC News has communicated with Shah, but has not had news. None of the accusations has been tested in the Court and no defense declaration has yet been filled.
SUSPENSION NOT TAKED ‘Light’: Swha
Days after the claim was filed, Steve Mason, president of the South Winnipe Hockey Association, sent a letter to the couple by email that said the association had made the decision to suspend them indefinitely to them and their son from all activities related to the League.
“He should be in a game at this time, his last playoff game and is not. He is sitting on the couch alone at this time, playing Fortnite,” Russo Russak said Saturday afternoon.
By presenting a claim statement, the couple violated a Hockey Manitoba StatuteMason said in his letter sent by email, obtained by CBC. According to section 306 (A), the association can indefinitely suspend one of its members to participate in hockey activities and games, if they choose to take legal actions before continuing and exhausting an internal appeal process.
Mason told CBC that the Board had three separated two -hour MeeTings, which did not involve Shah – DisMagging how to approach the situation better.
“We really didn’t want to suspend the child because the child has no part in this, but we thought it was better for both parties than there was a complete suspension of the parents and the child. We did not take it lightly,” he said.
But Dave Hill, the lawyer who represents the couple and a former minor hockey coach, said that although the Hockey agency could wish that an appeal process is launched before a lawsuit, it does not apply from their opinion on this case.
“This is not an appeal of a decision, this is not a decision made, it is [about] An alleged defamatory comment made by the vice president of the organization, “he said.” From my review of the documents, it is not something that must go through this appeal process. “
The plaintiffs claim that they have suffered damage to their reputation in the community in general, in the team of the team, and that “their character and integrity have been challenged”, as a result of Shah’s email, says the demand.
The couple also claims to have been “morally and vocationally discredited” by Shah.
The Winnipeg hockey and Manitoba hockey declined to comment on the matter because it is before the courts. Mason, that too No Comment directly on the demand, he said that the first priority of the association is its volunteers.
He also said that the team chief coach did his job when trying to reduce the situation after the game of December 14.
“We have hundreds of volunteers … we need to make sure we are protecting them in the future, and I think we have done the right thing,” Mason said. “Fortunately, [the parents] He made a decision.
“All this is reduced to protecting everyone involved, and for that to happen, we need to suspend the whole family. I do not proud that. Hopefully we do not have to do it, but we have to protect everyone.”
‘The system has just failed’
Hill said there is animosity between parents and the association, but the consequences of what is produced has had a “devastating” impact on the child.
“His nine -year -old is crying,” he said. “He has been suspended indefinitely. Can you imagine that? A nine -year -old boy.”
The couple is looking for an apology and damage for an indeterminate amount, according to the claim.
“They have had a difficult time and, ultimately, we want to transfer … to another hockey association,” said Hill.
But the couple said they have no faith that happens soon and, meanwhile, their son will continue to be out of the track, letting the family consider moving to a different basin so that he can play hockey.
“I’m lost, I don’t know what to do,” said Russo Russak.
“I don’t know how to collect his spirit because it has been quite hard for him.”
