In October 2004, before the ice-time ruling was made, [Hank Richard] tried to register [Ken-Allen Richard] in the BYHA, but the association refused until the ice-time complaint was dealt with. The BYHA suggested the boy play in the Yellowhead Region with Rivers again, but the team was full.

On Monday, adjudicator M. Lynne Harrison ruled the BYHA violated Section 20 of the Human Rights Code and described the BYHA's refusal to let Ken-Allen play as reprisal for the pending ice-time complaint. Besides the $2,000 awarded to Hank in trust for his son, Harrison forbids the association from refusing registration or transferring players based on human rights complaints.

BYHA president Glen Parker said the association respects the decision, but explained it only found out the transfer was denied part way through the season. "We fully believed he was going to have a chance to play," Parker said yesterday, adding the non-profit BYHA will have to pay the award using fees paid by players' families.