Bokondji Imama or the obstacle course

” I was really shocked. I need 10 minutes to myself after the phone call before I can start calling family, friends. “

In shock, that is understandable. The Montreal player has served a six -game suspension to the Tuscon Roadrunners of the American League. He thought for a moment that the AHL reduced his sentence, but it didn’t. This is for the big club.

Also in shock, as the 25-year-old completes his fifth season in the minors without receiving any recall.

It was a great sense of relief, Imama said. Every year, when National League teams tell you no.

The following night, the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce district-born attacker found himself on the ice of Gila River Arena in Glendale for his baptism by fire. In just four minutes of playing with the Coyotes, the energy players served five hits.

Twenty -four hours later, somewhat calmer, Bokondji Imama scored his very first NHL goal under the eyes of his family, who saw him play for the first time, on a great pass from an Alex Galchenyuk .

If there was a moment of doubt in his head at this precise moment, he quickly realized his victory in the embrace of his peers.

” You can see when I get to the bench how emotional I have been. I found myself again at the Patricia Park skating rink, five seconds from my street in NDG. I saw myself when I was young, when it was just a dream. “

Purgatory

Bokondji Imama was also happy to offer it present to his parents who supported him in good and bad times.

Because the story of the player of Congolese origin is not rose water. The 2015 6th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He spent four seasons with the organization, with AHL’s Ontario Reign in California.

It was a difficult professional start, admits Imama, when he was relegated to the lower level, the ECHL, in his second season. In total, he had to fit on three teams in the minors and, this season alone, he served a 178 -minute penalty in 54 games.

Especially Bokondji Imama knows that he is just a bad presence from descending into the club hierarchy.

” That’s why I call the American League a war. Everyone wants to take that call to the next level. Everyone is trying to survive. Everyone gives their best. This is not really the place to be comfortable. You want to survive and win your war. “

If he saw some teammates receive this call from above in his five seasons at AHL, the forward swears he hasn’t been discouraged. With each reminder for others, his motivation increases, he insists.

Yes, I was disappointed a few times that they didn’t give me a chance, says Bokondji Imama, but I always knew they were wrong. I was not the one who doubted myself. Now that I have the chance, I will do everything I can to seize it.

A paradigm for diversity

Bokondji Imama’s actions and deeds go unnoticed. His recent successes have earned him some messages of support that have touched his heart.

It’s very very very touching to see how much the world has supported me, he says, how much the world wants to continue to see me pursigido. Several people have told me that I have inspired them. I want to be a bigger role model, of course.

Anyone who has been a model knows that she leaves her mark on diversity. And some messages are more touching than others.

” We’re talking about racism in hockey, seeing the families of young black players that inspired my story, for me, that means a lot. [Les gens] share their children’s stories, the things they face. These are often situations similar to the one I face. Despite this, there is still a path to success for all. “

More subtle racism

To add another layer to his resilience, Bokondji Imama also had to go to the NHL while enduring his share of racist incidents.

Twice in the last two seasons in the AHL, Montrealer has been the target of infamous acts. The most recent date was in January when San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik was suspended for 30 games.

[ Cette sanction ] is clearly an improvement, Imama acknowledges. It clearly sent a pretty harsh message.

” Me, I think someone who wants to make this kind of gesture there isn’t even worthy to play. “

The player posted a scary message on social media, stating that he has experienced this type of situation throughout his career and it is regrettable and frustrating to see things continue in 2022.

If his message was carried, Imama estimates, he also decided to create a t-shirt with the Roadrunners organization for which he was registered: Stop. All of this is to raise funds for the Hockey Diversity Alliance.

According to the Quebec striker, things are not progressing. Racism is there. Just more deceptive, he argues.

People know that it is forbidden to say certain things or do certain things, Imama explained. They know there are consequences.

” But now, there are some subtle ways to make a gesture. When I returned to my incident last January, no, no one came to tell me the n-word, but he knew very well what he was doing. It is gentle in its demeanor that mimics a little monkey. By making chops. “

Here we are. When we say: enough. This is zero tolerance.

If Bokondji Imama felt that hockey players were more knowledgeable, the problem was also found in the stands according to him, among the supporters. Racism, he said, still hears.

Yes, I hear it on the penalty court or when we go out between periods, the Quebec player said. Even messages. There are people who will create false accounts and allow themselves to send all sorts of messages, which are full of nonsense. I do not believe.

Of course he is enough, but Bokondji Imama intends to continue to fight to improve the condition of future generations. It all starts with education.

Meanwhile, he hopes he had time to show the Arizona Coyotes that he has a place in the NHL.

All minutes of play are counted for the player who becomes a free agent without compensation.

Boko was convinced of one thing: it was only once he returned home to Montreal, with his four sisters, his half -brother and his parents, that he fully measured his success.