WHL Suspends Kevin Constantine Indefinitely for Derogatory Comments

Wenatchee Wild coach Kevin Constantine is suspended indefinitely after violating the WHL standard of conduct policies.

Update (Oct. 5): The Wenatchee Wild announced Thursday they have terminated the contract of coach Kevin Constantine effective immediately. Associate head coach Chris Clark and assistant Andrew Sarauer will maintain coaching duties until a new bench boss is named. The original story follows.

The WHL announced Wednesday afternoon that Kevin Constantine is suspended indefinitely after an investigation found he made "derogatory comments of a discriminatory nature."

Constantine is Wenatchee Wild’s first coach since the WHL franchise relocated from Winnipeg over the summer, but the team will now have to look for a replacement. Constantine will have to formally apply for reinstatement to the WHL commissioner if he wishes to return to coaching in the league, but he won't be eligible for that opportunity until July 2025 at the earliest.

The 64-year-old was initially suspended on Sept. 24 pending the result of an independent investigation after the league's independent reporting channel received a complaint about his conduct. It was determined through this investigation that Constantine violated the WHL standard of conduct policies, which includes a regulation that "any derogatory comment made by a player or club official on or off the ice will be subject to disciplinary action."

"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 a zero tolerance for any comments of a derogatory nature."

In the WHL's statement, the league "remains fully committed to continuing to provide industry-leading respect education and training through the WHL Respect in Hockey program, which is mandatory for all players and staff."

Constantine has coached for 16 different teams in 12 different leagues since he began in 1985. Regarding the WHL, he coached the Everett Silvertips from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2013 to 2017. He also has NHL experience as a head coach between 1993 and 2002, working for the San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils.

The Wenatchee Wild are 1-3-1 to start their inaugural season as a WHL franchise following seven seasons in the Jr. A British Columbia League. Located roughly a two-and-a-half- to three-hour drive east of Seattle, the Wild became the sixth team in the league's U.S. Division.