ABOVE: Ben Holmstrom. Photo courtesy of the Rochester Americans.
Ben Holmstrom, the Rochester Americans forward, is serving an 8-game suspension for using homophobic language. He’s already missed five games, a far shorter punishment than a San Jose player served earlier this season for racism on the ice.
The American Hockey League, the minor league offshoot of the National Hockey League, took punitive action last week after Holmstrom engaged in an altercation with Comets forward Chase De Leo at the end of the first period of Rochester’s home game versus the Utica Comets on March 30.
Holmstrom was heard spewing offensive anti-gay language and the on-ice officials immediately issued a game misconduct penalty, which sent the 34-year-old to the bench for the rest of the match. Rochester went on to defeat Utica 4-3.
There’s been no comment by Holmstrom or De Leo, but the AHL and his team, nicknamed the Amerks, did issue statements to the media.
“As part of the suspension, Holmstrom will be participating in diversity and inclusion education,” said the AHL in a statement. “The American Hockey League is committed to building a culture that is safe, inclusive, and free from abuse, harassment, and all forms of unethical behavior or misconduct.”
The team’s General Manager, Jason Karmonos, said in a statement: “We were made aware of an inappropriate comment made by one of our players in a recent game. Once aware, we took immediate action through numerous conversations with the player, team, and league. To be clear, we have no tolerance for any form of hate and regret any harm his comment inflicted. We strive to maintain an inclusive environment in which our differences are celebrated. We have sought counseling and awareness resources for the player.”
Holmstrom is not the first player suspended by the AHL for using hateful language this season.
On Jan. 22, the AHL suspended San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik for 30 games for directing a racial gesture at Tuscon Roadrunners forward Boko Imama during a game. Imama, who is Black, has been a frequent target of racist attacks in his AHL career.
Beyond ice hockey, homophobia is treated differently by each sports league. Back in 2015, the NBA suspended Sacramento Kings point guard Rajon Rondo one game for calling referee Bill Kennedy a “faggot” after being ejected from a game. “You’re a motherfucking faggot,” Rondo was overheard saying. “You’re a fucking faggot, Billy.” Kennedy subsequently came out as gay.
That punishment was a change for the NBA, considering that in 2011 Chicago Bulls All-Star Joakim Noah and the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant were not suspended for using gay slurs. Both were fined.
In 2020, MLB announcer Thom Brennaman was caught on a hot mic using a homophobic slur, a slip-up that cost him his career. Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar was suspended for two games for using a homophobic slur during a game in 2017. George Springer of the Astros was disciplined for using an anti-gay slur at an umpire in 2019.
Last October, the Las Vegas Raiders fired its coach Jon Gruden after emails surfaced in which he called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a “faggot” and “a clueless anti-football pussy.”
And although the PGA didn’t suspend Justin Thomas for calling himself a “fag” on TV, he did lose his Ralph Lauren sponsorship.
The Amerks is an owned and operated affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Holmstrom is a career minor leaguer who played college hockey at UMass Lowell and in 2011 played with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. He signed with the Amerks in early February of this year on a tryout contract. Holmstrom began this season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. He has five assists in 23 games with Rochester. He recently surpassed 600 career games.
Holmstrom is not eligible to return to the ice for three more games, when the Americans host the Springfield Thunderbirds on April 19.
