The removal of the banner bearing the name and number of John Vanbiesbrouck from the rafters of the home rink of the Soo Greyhounds "eliminates a major source of anger and frustration," Trevor Daley said in a statement issued via social media on Tuesday.
A Greyhound from 1999-2003, Daley was described to two white teammates by Vanbiesbrouck using a racial slur on March 7, 2003, while Vanbiesbrouck was coach and GM of the OHL team.
At some point earlier this season, the Greyhounds removed the retired Vanbiesbrouck No. 1 banner from the rafters of GFL Memorial Gardens.
"We aren’t trying to make a big deal of it, we just thought it was the right thing to do at this time," Hounds owner Tim Lukenda said in an email to the Sault Star. "Basically, we want to make sure we are creating a welcoming environment for all of our guests, players, former players and families."
Lukenda added Vanbiesbrouck's No. 1 would remain retired.
Daley, who calls Sault Ste. Marie home in the summer, added in his statement that the incident was a "very dark and racist moment" that he had to relive whenever he visited the arena.
Daley, 40, is currently a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins front office as a special assistant to GM Kyle Dubas. He spent 16 years in the NHL, primarily with the Dallas Stars, and won two straight Stanley Cups while a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After the incident, Vanbiesbrouck stepped down as head coach and GM, voluntarily sold his stake in the team and was suspended indefinitely by the OHL.
A veteran of 19 NHL seasons, primarily with the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers, Vanbiesbrouck replaced Craig Hartsburg as the head coach and GM of the Greyhounds after he ended his goaltending career in May 2002. Vanbiesbrouck played for the Greyhounds from 1980-82.
Since 2018, Vanbiesbrouck has been assistant executive director of hockey operations for Hockey USA, and since late 2021 has been general manager of the U.S. Olympics men's hockey team.
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