Leafs coach Mike Babcock and his players comment on anthem controversy.

Toronto Maple Leafs speak out.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Leafs coach Mike Babcock and his players comment on anthem controversy.
Keystone Press

The anthem controversy is creeping into the National Hockey League, and now the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the biggest market teams in the entire league, are commenting on the issue. 

A number of Leafs shared their thoughts on the anthem protests Monday after they were prompted to do so by questions from the assemble media, including head coach Mike Babcock.

“It’s unbelievable that you get to live in such great countries that you get freedom of speech because there’s lots of countries, as we know, you wouldn’t be saying anything,” Babcock said as per Jonas Siegel of The Athletic.

“I think it’s important to have freedom of speech,” he continued. “On the other side of that for me, (I have a) lot of friends in the military. When that national anthem’s played, to me that’s an important thing, too.”

Leafs veteran James van Riemsdyk also leaned towards support for the belief in freedom of expression in the United States. 

“I think the great thing about the U.S. is that you have the freedom to speak your mind and do certain things like that,” van Riemsdyk said.

Another Maple Leafs veteran in Nazem Kadri did not comment on the issues plaguing the United States specifically, but made it clear that he would not be kneeling for the Canadian anthem.

[[pub]

“We live in the best country in the world and sometimes I think we take for granted how good we have it in Canada,” Kadri added. “I love standing for our anthem.”

Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews however gave a very straight forward response regarding his stance on the issue, one that left little doubt as to which side of the issue he falls on.

“My great uncle served. I have friends, family, people that have served, men and women risk their lives for the United States, that have died for the United States. To me, I don’t know if kneeling, sitting, stretching is really something that I’d look into doing, just because to me, it’s like a dishonour to the men and women that fight for that flag, fight for the U.S.

“I don’t think I would be one of the people that would take part in it.”

It doesn't sounds like you should expect too many kneeling players on the Maple Leafs' roster.

Source: