Photo: David Banks - USA TODAY Sports
Tensions flew during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues, and because of that, the NHL had an important decision to make.
With about two minutes remaining in the regulation, the Blackhawks were looking to tie up the game as they trailed 4-3. However, that comeback was halted when Andrew Shaw was called for interference, and that was the spark that ignited Shaw's anger.
The Blackhawks forward went to the penalty box in a fit, and when he was in there, he banged on the door and directed a homophobic slur toward the referees. Here's the video of what happened.
From the video, it's clear he said something along the lines of, "F*** you, you f****** f*****." When approached about the slur, Shaw described his anger in that moment.
"Emotions are high; I don't know what's said," Shaw told USA TODAY after the Hawks fell to the Blues. "I was obviously upset with the call, being late in game."
He apologized for his comments today, and the NHL has suspended him one game for his remarks.
The league has been working hard to be more welcoming to athletes, especially ones who are members of the LGBT community. The Edmonton Oilers are the first NHL team to use "Pride Tape," rainbow-colored hockey tape to celebrate LGBT hockey players. And most ironically, just two days ago, the Blackhawks teamed up with "You Can Play," a group that works to encourage and welcome LGBT athletes, while calling on athletes and the NHL to fight homophobia.
Games can be stressful, and tempers can explode. Anger can cause players to do or say things in the heat of the moment, and they can be incredibly offensive or hurtful. They will not know the true impact behind their words or actions until afterward, when they calm down and come to their senses.
However, that does not justify the words said or what happened. When you are a famous athlete, you have all different types of people looking up to you: children, sports fans, aspiring players and even teammates. With that known, you must live up to your reputation and be a positive role model.
Behavior like this does not only shatter a player's reputation, but it sends a message to all gay athletes, fans, teammates, sportswriters and NHL followers that there are players who are not welcoming towards people who may be different. And if the NHL is looking to take a step in the right direction and welcome athletes regardless of sexual orientation, race or nationality, there is no room for words like that on the ice.
Not to mention, this is not the first time offensive slurs have been made toward NHL players or officials. Patrick O'Sullivan, who recently opened up about the child abuse he faced growing up, said in an interview that Alex Burrows told him twice -- once in the minor leagues and once in the NHL -- that he wanted to hurt him like his father did.
I got the opportunity to talk with O'Sullivan about his writing, abuse and career in the NHL, and when we talked about Burrows, he agreed that behavior like not only hurts feelings, but also ruins the player's reputation.
"People who do and say things like he does are not well-liked," O'Sullivan said.
With the unknown personal struggles that officials, players and staff deal with on a day-to-day basis, behavior like this should not be tolerated. Some people keep their sexuality closeted, or repress their troubles, because they are afraid of how people will react and whether or not they will be accepted.
In O'Sullivan's case, it took a lot of courage to discuss the abuse he faced growing up. Simply getting that courage to open up, no matter what the issue is (sexuality, abuse, etc.), takes a lot. It is extremely difficult to open up, but simply knowing that others are accepting of you no matter what can make it a lot easier.
That being said, the NHL took the right steps discipline Shaw for his actions. This will send a better message than the one that was communicated last night, behind the glass in a penalty box.