I have low expectations of NHL players, teams and the league. There aren’t many worthy role models among them and there’s a broadly toxic environment around the NHL. Can’t say I’m surprised by any of these guys being ignorant and comfortable in toxic group dynamics.

The question is, are consumers of NHL products uncomfortable enough with those toxic dynamics to make any difference? I would love to see it, but the NHL product is tribal membership and escapist entertainment, and that’s what the consumers are there for. Seems much more likely that most fans shrug it off, because tribalism and escapism both have pretty strong immune systems that keep out the irl concerns people are there to get away from.

A few PR-coached statements later, it’s probably back to thousands of Canadian fans wearing Tkachuk and Matthews jerseys cheering them on.

“The Maple Leafs are fascist adjacent” - average lemmy user

We should shame every players who accepted the White House invitation!

*edit: I’ve listened to some interviews around this whole thing and I’m not sure players of the team are super proud of what they did. I think they begin to understand something wrong happened and we start to see backpedaling from there part.

I can see why Torontonians are upset with him.

Somehow, they are the most engaged and least engaged fan base to ever exist. Never change, Toronto.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for a billion-dollar organization to actually care about the people who wear their logo, but come on. Hockey is lousy with conservatives; and yes, conservatives have been co-opted by the alt-right, so they are just conservatives now. If you consider yourself a conservative and don’t like this, then stop aligning yourself with fascists, Nazis, and extremists.

The best thing about being a Flames fan at the moment is we don’t have to know who is and isn’t awful. I just assume it is every American hockey player.

On the Wednesday game he suited up and they said he rejected the invite.