If you haven’t heard about the Twitter controversy tainting surrounding Joel Ward‘s game-winning series-ending overtime goal Thursday night, you were probably just busy celebrating. CapitalsOutsider’s own Nicole Weissman was one of the first to gather the hateful tweets, and since then the Bruins organization has given a decent chiding to the fans who participated. While there are a few articles worth reading (like this one by Harrison Mooney or this one from USA Today), no one has discussed the silver lining.
Yes, there is one.
Some argue that giving these people attention only feeds the frenzy (myself included). But the backlash says a lot about the hockey community. The responses likely played a part in why a few of those Twitter accounts were already deleted, and indirectly demonstrates that the Hockey is for Everyone and You Can Play campaigns are worth the bad commercial acting.
Among the numerous Tweeters that came out on the right side were a few NHLers. None of Ward’s teammates tweeted, but some of his Western Conference friends did:
It makes me sick to see that my boy @JRandalWard42 is trending for the wrong reason.. Great goal.. Great guy.. Get a life people
— michael duco (@Duco1787) April 26, 2012
Can’t believe the Joel Ward situation.. Some people need to grow up or shut up #classless #showsomerespectlosers — Kevin Shattenkirk (@shattdeuces) April 26, 2012
Lame racism has to come into play after Ward scores that OT winner.Glad to see him score, sad how people are tough behind a computer screen — Zach Bogosian (@Bogogo4) April 26, 2012
if anyone knows how to defy odds, its @JrandalWard42, joel ward! To all u racist idiots out there, Ur not fazing that guy!! — Eric Nystrom (@enystrom23) April 26, 2012
On a lesser note, other NHL players did not have such uplifting tweets, as the much-adored AHL goalie Mike McKenna was one of the few who immediately called out the illegality of Mike Knuble‘s scoring drive.
My opinion: last night’s game winner was goalie interference. Thomas makes save (90%) without contact from Knuble. Couldn’t seal ice. But… — Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) April 26, 2012
That’s a split-second call – on a line rush in Game 7 – that wasn’t very clear in real-time. Very difficult for Ref to make that call. — Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) April 26, 2012
Then there’s former Bruin Steven Kampfer. The original tweet has since been deleted, but after Ward scored, Kampfer tweeted something to the effect of “called it”. He followed that up with:
If I lose 30,000 followers I understand — Steven Kampfer (@SteveKampfer47) April 26, 2012
When asked whether the defenseman, who was traded to the Minnesota Wild for Greg Zanon, missed the Bruins organization, his response was short and to the point:
@jethro_8 really happy with the change
— Steven Kampfer (@SteveKampfer47) April 25, 2012
After a long day of this, Ward himself finally tweeted:
Thanks everyone for all your support.. #42 is in my thoughts more than ever!! #rockthered #jackierobinson
— Joel Ward (@JRandalWard42) April 26, 2012
