Former Red Deer Rebels captain, Kai Uchacz, speaks to youth and families at an event hosted by Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta, as a kick-off to Int'l Youth Day events, in Red Deer on July 26, 2024. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By rdnewsNOW staff

"I want to be a leading light..."

Uchacz, former Rebels captain, speaks on leadership and owning mistake

Jul 27, 2024 | 1:24 PM

With International Youth Day (Aug. 12) around the corner, local non-profit Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta brought in former Red Deer Rebels captain Kai Uchacz, 21, to tell his story as part of a speakers series.

The event focused on ‘Youth leading change,’ and served as an introduction to Ubuntu’s new Youth Justice Circle project.

For Uchacz, the opportunity came about as he continues to speak to youth groups about the mistake he made when he was with the Seattle Thunderbirds four years ago.

The racist incident, in which Uchacz was not the only one implicated, is one that got him indefinitely suspended. He then had to undergo certain training before being reinstated.

Uchacz was subsequently acquired by the Rebels, and began playing for the club in fall 2021.

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Uchacz was named team captain during summer 2023, ahead of his final season in the Western Hockey League — a decision that was met with much debate about whether or not he deserved it.

When rdnewsNOW spoke with Uchacz about these events a year ago, he insisted that he’d done a lot of growing. Uchacz also shared that he hadn’t yet been able to reach the victim in the situation, Mekai Sanders.

This week, Uchacz shares that a conversation between the two still hasn’t come to pass, but adds that he’s eager to continue sharing what he’s learned.

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READ MORE: “Sincerely sorry,” Rebels new captain looks to turn racist incident into positive culture change

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“I want to be able to give back and share my knowledge on what it’s like to be a leader. I won’t hide from my mistake. I’ll own it. For me, it’s being able to know what I did wrong, and I know that each day is an opportunity to be a better person,” Uchacz told rdnewsNOW Friday at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

“I always heard growing up that you should treat others the way you want to be treated. The last few years, I’ve come to understand what those words truly mean.”

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

It means no discrimination towards anyone, he says, and helping make a sport that isn’t exactly known for its diversity a safe place for all.

Uchacz has met with several youth hockey teams in Red Deer and continues to do speaking engagements in that vein.

The Okotoks native was also asked how he feels about the “second chance” he was given by the Rebels and to even be in the position to speak on these issues, now that his junior career is over.

“They believed in me and gave me that second chance. I believe everyone deserves a chance to get better and improve,” he says. “It’s like when you fail a test in school; you go home, study, grow, develop, and the teacher, while guiding and teaching you, may give you a second opportunity to do better on the test.”

“I want to be a leading light in the community and the world,” added Uchacz, who shared that he recently participated in the Vegas Golden Knights’ summer development camp.

Ubuntu executive director, Dieulita Datus-Hall, says her organization feels Uchacz’s story is important for youth to hear, and for him to hear from youth.

“We thought it was important for him to connect with young people, to face them and for them to hold him accountable. Our organization hosts conversations to bring people in to discuss topics that impact our communities and he accepted that offer,” she says.

“It would be unfair to apply his personal journey to the rest of society; for our organization, it’s more about creating space for anyone who wants to grow. We want this community to know that responsibility is a huge first step after making a mistake.”

She says while it may take someone several tries to achieve full realization of the impact of their actions, the community-building that comes from each attempt at dialogue and creating space can bring community closer together.

Ubuntu is in the process of expanding its space to allow for more community conversations. Learn more about Ubuntu’s projects at ubuntualberta.org.

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