The US Men’s Team pulled it off on Sunday morning and won gold. Everyone was excited and happy that they did it on the anniversary of the Miracle On Ice 1980. The only difference I will point out was that this team was full of NHL players while the 1980 was not. But that’s not the point of the blog post.

Then Larkin and Tkachuk went into the stands to go get the late Johnny Gaudreau’s kids. I will admit I cried when I saw Johnny’s dad cry, the heartbreak of losing both his sons to a self-entitled drunk will haunt him forever.

But what kills me is the US Men’s hockey team brought out Johnny Gaudreau’s daughter for the photo op but deny the fact that their culture is sexist, misogynistic and toxic towards women. 

These men don’t even fight for the women in their lives now what makes some people think they’re going to fight for her? 

The casual fan has NO IDEA what the culture of the NHL entails, they just see this moment and gush all over it. But women who are actual hockey fans see right through this – we see it as a way to say that these guys are so kind, compassionate and loving. Now, some NHL players might be that, but for the majority they are not.

As I wrote in my new series, “Meet Me In the Penalty Box” part 1: Culture isn’t an excuse for abuse.  And abuse is silent no matter what type of abuse it is: emotionally, mental, physical or sexual. This locker room culture in THE NHL encourages and rewards particular performances of toxic masculinity. And players who don’t adhere to implicit and explicit organizational expectations risk being ostracized.

Al the sexual assault and domestic violence that has occurred has been swept under the rug and the victims are bought off to keep quiet. We can talk about the social media admin of the NY Rangers, the victims of other cases, such as the Chicago Blackhawks, and also the well documented woman from the Hockey Canada case. That’s what the NHL does, they pay off these cases, the settle them. So whenever you hear something about a NHL player fans automatically assume that the woman is lying for a payday and the men take the athlete’s side. They make these guys out to the “Best” when that is not exactly the truth. At least the NFL does not sugar coat their league like the NHL does. They have a policy, the NHL does not. NHL players are PROHIBITED from talking about all the violence against women and even the media that covers the teams don’t MENTION it either. They all have become ENABLERS!

oh, and by the way, Gary Bettman the commissioner “swears” the alcohol is not part of the culture anymore… did you see how drunk out of their minds the team was Sunday? Yes, they won and I don’t care if they had a little to drink. Vincent Trocheck as quoted saying that he was going to “get F-up tonight”

The NHL USA Men’s team has an opportunity now once and for all to CHANGE the CULTURE and stand up for women everywhere and DEMAND a policy to protect the women who work in the NHL, date/marry NHL players and also protect players from sexual assault themselves. If Noa Gaudreau actually MEANS something to these guys and not was just used as a pawn on Sunday to make you believe they care, then they will NO LONGER BE SILENT.

We all have choices in our lives. Let’s see what choice the USA Men’s Hockey team makes- that will speak louder than anything else. Will they keep enabling violence against women or will they stay up as “Proud American Men” and say enough is enough?

The time is now.