OHL suspends Landon Sim five games for use of marginalizing language

The Ontario Hockey League announced on Monday that it has suspended London Knights forward Landon Sim for five games for using language that goes against the league’s code of conduct.

The incident occurred on Nov. 6, when the Knights defeated the Soo Greyhounds, 5-1. In the first period, Sim reportedly used foul language, which resulted in him receiving a game misconduct. The league investigated and determined that the 20-year-old’s actions violated the OHL Code of Conduct, as he made a remark “intended to provoke an opposing player that was marginalizing on both religious and cultural grounds.”

In a release, the OHL noted that its policy states that “all players have the right to participate in the Ontario Hockey League in a safe and healthy environment which promotes equal opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices. All forms of harassment and abuse including, but not limited to, taunts, slurs and comments based on race, age, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disability will not be tolerated and are completely unacceptable under any circumstances.”

Per league rules, the violation of the policy carries a minimum five-game suspension. Sim, who was suspended indefinitely following the incident, has already sat out two games and will be eligible to return to the lineup on Nov. 22 when the Knights host the Owen Sound Attack.

According to the OHL, all players and staff are educated on the league’s diversity policy, which prohibits players from making discriminatory comments. The instruction occurs during Players First training, which is mandated before every season. OHL director of culture and community Rico Phillips is reportedly following up with Sim in an effort to better educate and prevent this from happening again.

This is not the first time Sim has been disciplined by the OHL. He was kicked our during warmup before Game 5 of last year’s Western Conference Final against the Saginaw Spirit for language used toward a Spirit defender. The OHL suspended him for five games after “contravening the league’s diversity, maltreatment and bullying policy and its pre-game warm-up policy.”

Sim was taken by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round, 184th overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft. He is in his fourth season with the Knights, and is listed as an alternate captain.