CNN
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The Boston Bruins canceled Contract with Mitchell Miller Sunday, after the National Hockey League deemed him ineligible to join the team due to a bullying incident in which the player was involved when he was a young teenager.
The decision is effective immediately, just days after Bruins signed an entry-level contract on Friday. This change comes after new information was revealed apparently related to bullying, which at some point It led to dire consequences when the player was in school.
14-year-old Miller was convicted in a bullying incident in which he and another teen were accused of tricking their black classmate Isaiah Myers Crothers into eating candy that had been placed in a urinal, according to a report from Arizona Republic open.
Miller and another teen pleaded guilty to bullying in Ohio juvenile court and were sentenced to community service, according to The Republic.
Explaining the decision to sign with the 20-year-old Miller in the first place, Boston Bruins president Cam Neely said the team looked carefully at the facts as they were aware of them, a poor decision that led to a condemnation of the event.”
We understood that this was an isolated incident and that he had taken meaningful action to reform and was committed to ongoing personal development. Based on that understanding, we offered him a contract, said Neely.
After new information emerged, the team decided it was in their best interest to cancel the opportunity. The team’s statement did not detail that information.
“We hope that he will continue to work with professionals and programs to advance his education and personal growth,” Neely said.
Neely also apologized to Myers-Kruthers and his family for signing, as well as to members of the organization, fans, partners and the community.
“To Isaiah and his family, I deeply apologize if this signature made you and the other victims feel invisible and unheard. We apologize for the profound hurt and impact we have caused,” Nellie said. “We will continue to stand against bullying and racism in all its forms.”
Neely added, “Finally, as a father, I believe there is a lesson to be learned here for other young people. Be aware of reckless behaviors and follow a group mindset to hurt others. The repercussions can be felt for life.”
On Saturday, the NHL commissioner Gary Bateman said The Bruins did not consult the league before signing with Miller, describing what Miller did at the age of 14 as “reprehensible” and “unacceptable.”
“He’s not coming to the NHL. He’s ineligible at this point to get into the NHL. Speaking at the NHL Global Series in Tampere, Finland, I can’t tell you he would ever be eligible to get into the NHL,” Bettman said while speaking at the NHL Global Series in Tampere, Finland.
“So the answer is that they were free to sign him to play elsewhere, and that’s another issue with the league, but no one should think at this point that he’s eligible or might qualify for the NHL. The Bruins understand that now,” he added. Batman.
Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in 2020, the team later withdrew its rights after a Republic report revealed the bullying conviction.
CNN reached out to Miller’s representative for comment and did not immediately receive a response.
When Bruins initially signed Millerthe team provided a statement from the player saying: “When I was in the eighth grade, I made a very bad decision and acted inappropriately.”
“I am deeply sorry for the accident and have apologized to the individual. Since the accident, I have come to a better understanding of the far-reaching consequences of my actions that I failed to recognize and understand nearly seven years ago.” To be clear, what I did when I was 14 was wrong and unacceptable. There is no place in this world for disrespect for others, and I pledge to take this opportunity to speak out against mistreating others.”
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