By Troy Gillard

team responds

Rebels issue statement regarding social media allegations

Nov 27, 2019 | 3:48 PM

The Red Deer Rebels have issued a statement in response to a photo shared on social media that allegedly shows underage hockey players taking part in hazing activities.

Former NHL player Daniel Carcillo shared the picture Tuesday night on Twitter. It shows a group of young hockey players dressed as women, some of them drinking beer.

Carcillo, who has been a vocal supporter for the respectful treatment for hockey players, also used his tweets to direct accusations at members of the Sutter family.

“I’ve been getting numerous messages out of the @TheWHL about an abusive group of men who are considered @HockeyCanada royalty, The Sutters,” he tweeted.

“Underage drinking, dressing young men as women & physical, verbal & sexual abuse happened at the pictured rookie party. The @TheWHL & @HockeyCanada was made aware of it & nothing was done (because) it involved the Sutter name,” read his tweet that included the picture.

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Carcillo did not directly name the Red Deer Rebels, saying only that it was a WHL team and the Sutter family that were involved in the incident.

On Wednesday, the Rebels issued the following statement in response to Carcillo’s tweets:

“Brent Sutter – Owner, Governor, President, General Manager and Head Coach of the Red Deer Rebels – and the Western Hockey League, take matters of this nature very seriously. The Red Deer Rebels Hockey Club have reviewed the photograph shared on social media and have indicated to the WHL they do not believe any individuals depicted in the photograph are former members of the Red Deer Rebels.

“The WHL is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for all WHL players.

“The WHL has a zero tolerance policy on all forms of abuse, bullying, harassment and hazing. The policy applies to all individuals associated directly or indirectly with the operation of a member Club or the League.”

Carcillo’s tweets come in the wake of controversies surrounding Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters, and former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock.

Peters is accused by former NHL player Akim Aliu of using racial slurs towards him while the two were with the Rockford Ice Hogs of the American Hockey League during the 2009-10. Several other members of that team have backed up Aliu’s story.

He is also accused of physically abusing players while he was head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. Current Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed on Wednesday that incidents took place that were reported to and dealt with by team management.

Peters remains employed by the Flames pending the outcome of a team investigation.

Babcock, who was fired by the Maple Leafs last week, came under fire for pressuring then-rookie Mitch Marner into calling out the work ethic his teammates, then telling them about it.