FSIN sports director apologizes for ‘hurtful words’ said during trophy presentation

FSIN Sports Director put out an apology in a Facebook live video to the Beardy's hockey team for his comments this past weekend in Regina.

Frank Corey O’Soup apologized Monday for comments he made to the Beardy’s BlackHawks hockey team while presenting a trophy last weekend in Regina.

Corey O’Soup, sports director of Saskatchewan’s Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), made the apology during a Facebook live video.

During the incident, Corey O’Soup twice referred to the Beardy’s Blackhawks as the “Beardy’s BeerHawks” during the trophy and banner presentation.

“I’m sincerely sorry for saying your team’s name wrong not once, but twice. This was not intentional, not a joke,” Corey O’Soup says during the nearly four-minute video.

He apologized to Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation Chief and Council (BOCN), the hockey team, residents of Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation, and the FSIN for what he called his “hurtful words.”

A  statement from BOCN early Monday had called the comments “disrespectful and upsetting to all who overheard what was said,” and said they “demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism, poor judgement, and improper sportsmanship on part of the organizer.”

The statement said the incident took place during this past weekend’s 2022 Youth FSIN Hockey Championship after the Under 9 Championship final between the Beardy’s BlackHawks and Cote Selects.

BOCN said it made a formal complaint to FSIN and requested a formal apology to be issued to the Under 9 Beardy’s Blackhawks and Beardy’s membership.