WHL suspends ex-NHL coach Constantine until at least 2025 for discriminatory comments

The WHL announced an indefinite suspension for Wenatchee Wild head coach Kevin Constantine on Wednesday after an investigation revealed he made "derogatory comments of a discriminatory nature."

The Wild announced on Thursday that they have fired Constantine. The league stated that Constantine is eligible to formally apply for reinstatement as early as July 2025.

Constantine was originally suspended on Sept 25., pending an investigation, after the league announced it had received a complaint about the coach's conduct. The 64-year-old bench boss — who was hired this past offseason after the franchise relocated from Winnipeg — coached just two games for the team before he was removed from his position.

“The WHL holds our players and staff to a very high standard of conduct at all times,” WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in a statement. “We have extensive programming which emphasizes the importance of always treating players and staff in a respectful manner and there is zero tolerance for any comments of a derogatory nature.

"Those in leadership capacities in the WHL, in particular our head coaches, are expected to set examples for our players and not conduct themselves in a manner that would impact adversely on the team environment or inflict damage on the reputation of the league.”

While the WHL did not disclose any details surrounding the nature of the incident, The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy reported last week that the allegation against Constantine involved the use of a racial slur.

Constantine was suspended for four games and fined $5,000 by the WHL in 2016-17 — when he was the head coach of the Everett Silvertips — after forcing players to stay in their equipment after a game against the Tri-City Americans throughout their post-game meal and lengthy bus ride back to Everett.

During the 1996-97 season, Constantine, then an assistant with the NHL's Calgary Flames, was handed a one-game suspension for confronting an Edmonton Oilers fan who poured a drink on another Flames assistant coach, Guy Lapointe.

Constantine previously had stints as head coach of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New Jersey Devils.