Fans slam 'racist' NHL team policy after black player Anthony Duclair is forced to CUT OFF his dreadlocks to comply

Hockey fans are slamming the New York Islanders and general manager Lou Lamoriello for a policy that led to a new signing cutting off his hair.

For years, Lamoriello has set a limit to how long a player's hair can be and has enforced this rule at two previous teams: the New Jersey Devils and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But when Anthony Duclair - a black player - posted an image of his chopped-off dreadlocks to Instagram, fans decried the policy with some calling it racist.

'some weird nhl fans will def find this but imma say it anyway,' wrote one person on Twitter. 'this islanders dress code lou has is very extremely [thinly] veiled racism. and i know duclair signed there by choice, knowing he’d have to cut his hair, but that doesn’t make the dress code any less racist!'

'This seems very rooted in racism. Imagine spending time to get locs like that and having to cut it off for some old white man to let you play,' wrote another.

'Lol, Lou is such a dinosaur it’s ridiculous,' another person said.

NHL star Anthony Duclair posted this photo to Instagram of his shaved-off dreadlocks

 Duclair signed for the Islanders, who have this hair policy thanks to GM Lou Lamoriello

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'hey so like quick question, how badly does this violate the New York CROWN act? @NHLPA @NYIslanders,' wrote another person - referring to a recently passed law in the state of New York that makes it against the law to discriminate against someone for their hairstyle.

'"He was free to sign somewhere else" "He obviously knew about the rule" The rule stinks and I guarantee you he's the last GM who'll have it,' wrote Boston sports writer Matt Porter.

'I get that Anthony Duclair knew full well what signing with a Lou Lamoriello GM'd team would mean for his personal style and hair and was accepting of it... But that doesn't make such a stupid personal rule any less stupid,' another user wrote.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the New York Islanders for any comment on this matter. 

Lamoriello has a number of rules regarding personal attire and hair - including that players are not allowed to have facial hair except for in the playoffs, where facial hair is common among players.

He also enforces a rule saying players must wear jackets and ties to games and on the team bus and plane and bans any players from wearing jewelry.

These rules don't just apply to players, but to staff as well.

The Islanders are not the only team to have strict rules regarding hair and facial hair in the New York market.

A number of hockey fans decried the policy as racist and suggested it might violate state law

Most notably, the New York Yankees have had a rule against having facial hair outside of a mustache and against having hair touch their collar.

Duclair signed a four-year, $14million contract with an average annual value of $3.5m a year back on July 1 - the first day of NHL free agency. 

Last season, Duclair combined for 24 goals and 18 assists for 42 points across 73 games for the San Jose Sharks and the Tampa Bay Lightning.