Former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes: Get racist 'knuckleheads' out of NHL

Athletes around the world continue to react to the killing of George Floyd, the unarmed African-American man who died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. 

Retired NHL goaltender and current NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes spoke about Floyd's unnecessary death, and race relations in general, during an appearance on the "ESPN on Ice" podcast. 

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Weekes said: "I want to see people be real. You're real about other things. Say, 'Hey, this is a problem.' We have qualified women and transgendered people and people of color ... and let's put the best people in positions. Like (Alabama football coach) Nick Saban has said: His job is to get the right people on the bus and get the wrong people the heck off the bus. And that's it."

Weekes added the NHL should deliver bans to players, coaches and other personnel found guilty of racism. "If you have knuckleheads, get them out of there," Weekes said. "Boom, you're gone. It's a three-year ban or a lifetime ban as a managerial person or a coach."

Weekes believes fans should receive similar punishments if they commit racist acts or yell racial slurs at arenas during games. 

Weekes, who was born in Toronto, also discussed dealing with racism in Canada: "A lot of people in Canada will say, 'Oh, that's an American problem.' It couldn't be any further from the truth. As a black goalie, specifically, I would have my goalie pads, my bag, my sticks, and next thing you know, cops pull me over. 'Hey, is this your vehicle? Can we see your license and registration? Is this your car? Are you the owner?' 

"I had that happen 20 times, maybe, in going to the rink to work on my game as a pro. In a few instances, depending on the vehicle I was driving, if they could see my goalie pads or my hockey bag, they'd say, 'Oh, you're Weekes! You're the goalie! Why don't you come and play for the Leafs?' "

Weekes, 45, played 13 NHL seasons with seven teams and last played during the 2008-09 season.

San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane, New York Islanders captain Anders Lee, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban, and Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid are among the prominent NHL players who have commented on Floyd's death and racial injustices over the past week.