NBC Sports

After being the target of racial taunts during the Capitals’ game against the Chicago Blackhawks several days ago, and the subsequent banning of the four fans who were responsible, Devante Smith-Pelly and other Blackhawks fans have done some good for Fort DuPont Ice Arena in Washington D.C., as Blackhawks fans have raised $23,000 as an apology for their fellow fans’ reprehensible behavior, per The Washington Post. 

After writing an article in The Chicago Tribune, Steve Rosenbloom received an email from a reader, John Simpson, stating that he believed Blackhawks fans should donate money to a charity of Smith-Pelly’s choosing. What’s more, Simpson donated the first $10,000. Smith-Pelly settled on Fort DuPont Ice Arena in D.C., and Chicago fans responsed wholeheartedly. What’s even more incredible about the gesture, is that Simpson himself is not really a fan of hockey.

Just wanted to say a huge thanks to @steverosenbloom and all the hockey fans in Chicago who have contributed and supported the Fort DuPont program in DC. I appreciate all the support that I have received from my teammates and so many in the hockey community.

— Devante Smith-Pelly (@smithpelly23) February 23, 2018

In total, ‘Hawks fans raised $23,000 on 353 donations, showing their overwhelming support of Smith-Pelly. Fort DuPont director Ty Newberry released a statement following the announcement of the donation:

“We are overwhelmed with the support from the hockey community, the people of Chicago, Blackhawks fans and others across the country,” Newberry said in an email. “We are incredibly grateful that Devante Smith-Pelly chose us as his charity; though, we would have preferred that this incident never occurred to begin with. It is great to know that the world is filled with so many more good people than it is bad.”

The kindness of Simpson and Blackhawks fans is truly inspiring and shows that the world is filled with people who want to right wrongs and make a difference. As Fort Dupont Ice Arena is a non-profit organization, this donation should help tremendously to continue their operations. If you would like to donate to Fort DuPont Ice Arena, click here.

By Michael Fleetwood