Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov stir controversy hoisting Stanley Cup mid-game

During the first intermission of tonight’s Winter Classic in Miami, New York Rangers and Florida Panthers fans were treated to a surprising, and controversial, sight. Injured forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov took to the stage during Role Model’s concert, hoisting the Stanley Cup and dancing in front of thousands of spectators.

The move immediately caught attention online. Fans questioned why two players on the injured list would be allowed on a slippery stage with slip-on shoes mid-game, with some arguing it was a poor example for professionalism.

“Call me old school, but that’s totally wrong to me. Your lease ended in October, gotta earn it back again if you wanna dance around with it,” one fan wrote.

You can watch the video of Tkachuk and Barkov dancing with the Cup here and see the incredible amount of comments below it:

While the move delighted some in the crowd, it’s sure to stir debate among hockey purists and fans alike.