Rod Masters (“Slap Shot”) , has the organ gig at Kraken games
youtu.be/ZcD9aMeqJLU

I presume that many hockey fans on this thread have heard that the Bruins signed Mitchell Miller to an entry-level contract. Miller is, to put it mildly, a controversial figure. There's a wikipedia entry on him for anyone that cares to look. Suffice to say that he engaged in some very cruel and racist behavior when he was 14.

The reaction here in Bruins country is primarily one of outrage. Sports talk radio, social media, you name it - maybe 5% of fans are jaded enough to justify the idea based on the fact that Miller's USHL numbers are good and Boston doesn't have all that much talent among defensemen down in Providence.

IMO, this is horrible optics for both the Bruins and the NHL. The Bs are flying high right now - their best start in memory - and have been doing so despite injuries to some of their key weapons. One sports talker likened what Don Sweeney did as "taking a blowtorch to the whole thing." Patrice Bergeron did an interview that recalls hostage videos more than anything else.

I think of the strides that the NHL has made in the last decade or two - that organized hockey has produced NHL-level players who are black, Asian, middle-eastern Muslims and more. All of this has made the game, at the pro level, much better.

Miller may in fact now realize how horrible his actions were six years ago. But the proof of that is in the pudding. For my part, I think this was an incredibly stupid move by the Bruins' front office. The Bs may be thin on young defensemen, but not so thin that they needed to shoot themselves in the foot over one.

Quote from a USA Today Sports article “ “This has been a struggle as to what is right and what is wrong,” Sweeney said. “I can’t categorically tell you this is the absolute right decision. This is an opportunity that we’re providing for a young man who’s going to work to continue to earn trust and respect.”

Yes, Miller committed these atrocities when he was in eighth grade. He was young, and the Bruins are among those who believe he deserves a second chance. ”

You have to wonder , the Bruins being the team Willie O’Ree broke the colour barrier with. I wonder what he’s thinking now.

Full article here usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/...69459001/

Apparently he hasn’t even personally apologized to the victim.

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Quote from a USA Today Sports article “ “This has been a struggle as to what is right and what is wrong,” Sweeney said. “I can’t categorically tell you this is the absolute right decision. This is an opportunity that we’re providing for a young man who’s going to work to continue to earn trust and respect.”

Yes, Miller committed these atrocities when he was in eighth grade. He was young, and the Bruins are among those who believe he deserves a second chance. ”

You have to wonder , the Bruins being the team Willie O’Ree broke the colour barrier with. I wonder what he’s thinking now.

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I can't imagine he's pleased. And if Sweeney had sought his opinion first, they'd have Mr. O'Ree out there right now defending the decision.

I probably barely qualify as a fan nowadays, but....

While I'm all for second chances, [from the Wiki article]: "Miller maintains that his court-mandated apology letter was read to the Meyer-Crothers family." serves up b-i-g reservations for me.    '

Court-mandated?!?!!?  Court schmandated!!!  Gimme a break!!

From time to time I wonder whether it would be feasible/worthwhile in situations similar to this if the "offender" could have a court mandate that he take the aggrieved people [maybe including some family and friends] to public functions [concerts, restaurants, sporting events, etc., etc.] along with a court-mandated "supervisor"/observer .... at the offender's expense of course ... no set time limit.... until the offender demonstrated that he/she had learned something, or at least is putting in a bona fide effort.... and maybe even follow that up with some targeted [read: meaningful] public service.  

.... or maybe trade him to the Maple Laffs and have him room with Wayne Simmonds??  ... or bring Georges Laraque out of retirement ... as a "special advisor/consultant"??

.... ^^ "restorative justice"??  https://nanlegal.on.ca/restorative-justice/#:~:text=Through%20motivation%20and%20understanding%2C%20Restorative,of%20productive%20members%20of%20society.&text=The%20goal%20of%20Restorative%20Justice,in%20the%20mainstream%20justice%20system

Word on Boston sports radio - two stations, both of which have been ripping the Bruins all day, is that you no longer get a live answer if you call to order tickets. That's how much abuse is being hurled at the team.

I love the Bruins. Always have. But all I can say to that is: Good. And if they ever had a "contact us" link on their website, good luck finding it.

I was pissed at Sweeney and Cam for sacking Cassidy, and also pissed at some of the strange trades, drafts and acquisitions over the past five years. Given what the team has accomplished so far this year, I was ready to take back some of the nasty stuff I've said about those guys in the past four months. But not now. Not now.

The Bruins locker room isn't happy with this situation. Bergeron, Marchand, Foligno and others are quoted in a story on nhl.com that shows clearly that they don't like this move. And the way the front office has handled this story? Disgraceful.

The team is currently playing well, and new head coach Jim Montgomery is showing that he's a good fit, so good for the front office on that call. Bruins/Leafs face off in about 45 minutes, and I'll be watching. But throw Cam and Sweeney overboard. Now. Far as I'm concerned, they've overstayed their welcome.

It’s kind of a black mark on Cam,, he’s been so respected for years

From the CBC feed, no mention of the controversy….yet.
Bieksa (DC couldn’t pronounce it so he always said “Bieska”), and Marchand deliver a funny at the end.
youtu.be/d14L3sag_rM

(I have no idea how to put a self-made video on here so I put it on my YouTube channel)

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

It’s kind of a black mark on Cam,, he’s been so respected for years

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He was a talented player, and got the respect that way. I'm unconvinced that he deserves much as team president.

I agree,, these ex-players getting the Prez job is kind of iffy… same in Toronto with Shanahan.

Well, they did get into it a bit
youtu.be/D2ZarLGpsg0

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Well, they did get into it a bit
youtu.be/D2ZarLGpsg0

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Vid removed. Got another link... or a description?

Bettman has weighed in. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bruins-sign-renounced-coyotes-draft-pick-mitchell-miller-1.6642157

quote:

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Originally posted by Paul R

Bettman has weighed in. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bruins-sign-renounced-coyotes-draft-pick-mitchell-miller-1.6642157

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Thus saving the League's, and (one presumes) Boston's bacon. I was so glad to see Bettman's statement, though I wonder upon what grounds he can (or will) make that call.

It's ironic in that Bruins' owner Jeremey Jacobs is also the chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, his son Charlie is an Alternate Governor, as is Cam Neeley.

quote:

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Originally posted by eagleisland

quote:

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Well, they did get into it a bit
youtu.be/D2ZarLGpsg0

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Vid removed. Got another link... or a description?

 

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Yeah, thought I better remove it before getting a copyright strike against me. They more or less were scratching their heads why the Bruins were doing this. 
update : here's a clip from Sportsnet of the intermission panel discussion (a few seconds into the vid) https://youtu.be/JQIe7IuhFXg 

(btw, the panel are wearing poppies, the original theme of the OP , go figger)

And the Bears caved in. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/boston-bruins-release-mitchell-miller-1.6639257

Here's an interesting piece on the great "Fog Bowl". https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2080285251878

1) Don Sweeney has a change of heart: https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-issue-update-on-mitchell-miller/c-337296694

2) Good.

3) What a &%$#@! weasel.

The Wiki article mentions: "The Coyotes initially defended Miller, citing their desire to "be a part of the solution in a real way" and to help Miller grow from this incident and eventually become a leader against bullying and racism.^[18][11] Although Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong did not draft Miller, he expressed the team's desire to provide Miller with a second chance."

There's probably more that I don't know than I do, but I'm not seeing much "be part of a real solution... and leader against bullying and racism" from the NHL or any team or Miller himself.  To my way of thinking, it seems like there's a pack of &%$#@! weasels involved.    A pox on all their houses????

"It's the same sport that harbors players like Jacob Panetta, who was suspended for making a racist gesture at Jordan Subban during an ECHL game in January. Jordan's brother, P.K. Subban, played 13 seasons in the NHL.

It's the same sport where AHL forward Krystof Hrabik was suspended for a racist gesture toward Boko Imama in January.

It's the same NHL that saw Chicago Blackhawks fans kicked out of a game for chanting racist taunts at Devante Smith-Pelly.

It's the same league where Bill Peters stepped down as Calgary Flames coach in 2019 after former player Akim Aliu said Peters used a racial epithet while talking to him in the AHL a decade earlier.

Aliu, chairman of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, weighed in Friday on the Miller signing.

Akim Aliu

@Dreamer_Aliu78
·
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Nothing says “NHL Culture” like a coordinated Instagram apology by Mitchell Miller to “rehabilitate” him back to the league after victimizing & torturing someone for their race & disability for years. Every aspect of this is unsettling, including his representation."

- USA Today , Richard Morin

(Richard Morin is a community engagement producer with USA TODAY Sports and has been with the USA TODAY Network since 2017, including having previously covered the NHL and MLB for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.)

I’ve been very impressed with Zach Hyman the last couple of years,, he’s got 2 assists tonight. He’s a tireless worker, forechecked, and playmaker/goal scorer. Not only that, but he's a best-selling author!. Here’s a bit of his bio
“ Zachary Martin Hyman (born June 9, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and author, currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Toronto.
Hockey Canada named him the 2011 Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year. In 2013, Hyman represented Canada at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel, where he won a gold medal. During the 2014–15 season, Hyman won a number of awards, including being named the University of Michigan's Athlete of the Year and a First Team All-American, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Hyman is also an award-winning, best-selling author of children's literature, under contract with Penguin Random House."

Best selling author. He has something in common with Ken Dryden.

More on the M. Miller case,, unsettling what this guy did.
sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/isaia...my-heart/