Team Canada Players Targeted with Hostile Threats on Social Media After Elimination

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Hunter Bowman
January 3, 2024 (6:10 PM)

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Team Canada faced a wave of backlash on social media after their defeat to Czechia in the IIHF World Junior Championships, prompting some players to make their accounts private.

Canadian Players Face Criticism Post Czechia Loss

Following Team Canada's elimination from the IIHF World Junior Championships after losing to Team Czechia, players encountered hate and threats online merely for being part of the team.

According to Gord Miller of TSN, players received unwarranted criticism:

"I understand that people in Canada are disappointed with the QF loss, but it's disheartening to hear that some of the players are being subjected to nasty personal messages on social media. There's no need for that, they did their best and lost. Two years ago Canada won a gold medal in OT after a miraculous goal line save by Mason McTavish, last year they won the QF in OT on Conor Bedard's goal after a deflected Slovak shot hit the shaft of Thomas Milic's stick. It happens."

Philadelphia Flyers defensive prospect Oliver Bonk became a focal point due to a puck deflection off his stick resulting in the final play that led to the Czech goal.

Despite his innocence in the play, Bonk faced a barrage of hate on social media, prompting him to make his accounts private.

"Oliver Bonk put his Instagram on private after being attacked by Canada fans for a play that wasn't even his fault.

Bonk's shown how open he is about his mental health and for grown adults to attack a kid playing in a hockey tournament for teenagers is sick and disturbing."

Amid the negativity, there were supportive fans expressing encouragement for Team Canada, emphasizing that despite the loss, things will be okay. The hope is that the players navigate this challenging period and emerge stronger, given their promising futures ahead.

Source: Hockeypatrol