Team Canada players face hostile threats on social media after elimination

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James Connelly
January 3, 2024 (2:30 PM)

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After losing to Czechia yesterday, many Team Canada players received hostile threats on social media forcing some to private their accounts.

Yesterday, Team Canada lost to Team Czechia getting eliminated from the IIHF World Junior Championships. Many of the players then received hate and even threats online for simply being a part of the team.

Per Gord Miller of TSN, the players received hate for simply being a part of the team.

"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."

The main player in question is Philadelphia Flyers defensive prospect Oliver Bonk. On the final play of the game essentially, a puck deflected off of Bonk's stick and into the back of the Canadian net.

After the goal, some flooded Bonk's social media messages with hate despite there being nothing he could have done in the play. Bonk then privated his social media in an effort to get away from the hateful messages.

"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."

While there were definitely some bad apples, other fans showed their support for Team Canada and that although they lost, it is going to be okay.

Hopefully, these players are able to get through this period and come out of it for the better as they all have such bright futures ahead of them.

As seen on House of Hockey - Team Canada Players Recieve Threats For Losing To Czechia