If there's one thing I know that we, as Jets fans, should do after a big series win, it's that we need to stay humble. Winning one round of playoff hockey against the Edmonton Oilers is something that's fantastic, but it will mean nothing if the Jets fold like a cheap tent in the wind in the second round against either Toronto or Montreal. Enjoy the victory, Jets fans, but tip your hats to the Oilers because had any of those overtime games gone the other way, we'd still be in a series and heading back to Edmonton.
To the Oilers, thank you for an entertaining series in which you all busted your collective tails in an effort to advance. Overtime games are a fickle beast, and it would have taken one bounce, one broken stick, one knucklepuck in any of Games Two, Three, or Four that could have swung this series in your favour. I'm taking nothing away from your efforts because just as the Jets won the series, they could also be down 3-1.
This isn't going to be a long-winded entry by any means as I'm heading to bed shortly after a solid nap following dinner tonight, but I need to comment on one thing that was seen on social media because this blog will not stand for it.
There were some "fans" - I use that term very loosely - who believed that going to Ethan Bear's social media accounts and spewing vile, racist comments towards the Indigenous hockey player is acceptable behaviour. I'm not here to shame those that did because they accomplished that on their own, but I am here to say that if any of that crap ever reaches this blog on any story posted here there will be shame handed out in large quantities.
Ethan Bear is a very good defenceman who made a mistake on a turnover. There have been countless other mistakes made in hockey in the entire time that the game has been played, and there will be more made. Ever heard of Steve Smith, Oilers fans? Of course, we all recall that mistake in a time where social media meant "meet you at the game". That mistake cost the Oilers a shot at stringing together five Stanley Cup celebrations, so that was a big one. For the more recent fans, there was Ty Conklin against the Hurricanes in 2006 in the Stanley Cup Final, so I need to be clear here in saying that the Oilers franchise has experienced player gaffes before and undoubtedly will experience gaffes again in the future.
To turn a young man's world upside down after he was already dealing with arguably the worst mistake he's made in his career by posting racist comments on his social media is likely the most disgusting thing that any "fan" - again, using that term loosely - could ever do. Quite frankly, if this was you who did this or thought about doing it or even remotely considered it for a nanosecond, walk away from the sport right now and don't come back. I'm dead serious.
I posted the results of an Angus Reid survey 17 days ago. In that survey, respondants told Angus Reid that "[r]acism is a problem in the game with '58 per cent among those who identify as a visible minority' saying it exists, some 'nine points higher than Caucasian respondents (49%)'". The comments on Ethan Bear's social media not only reinforce these numbers, but prove them right beyond a shadow of a doubt. That's a damning statement to write on a blog focused on hockey, but the evidence is hard to deny.
Ethan Bear is a helluva defender, and he's going to be a fixture in the NHL for a long, long time with how he plays the game. His smile on the ice is infectuous, and you can't help but cheer for the kid because he appears to have a long and prosperous career ahead of him. One would hope it's in the orange-and-blue of the Edmonton Oilers, but it appears some fans have focused on the colour of his skin rather than the colour of his jersey when it comes to venting their frustrations.
I'd be delighted to have Ethan Bear playing for the Jets or any other team I cheer for simply because the kid's a gamer. He wants to be out there, he wants to make a difference, and he wants to win. Those are the only things I see when Bear is tearing around on the ice, and one mistake in the opening round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs will not define his career in my eyes where there are many chapters still to be written.
Besides being a phenomenal young player, Bear also runs a hockey camp for Indigenous youths at the Ochapowace First Nation where he grew up, helping youth in the First Nation community to find their ways through hockey. Not only is Bear a good player, but the man is a great person when it comes to giving back to the community that helped elevate him, and yet some "fans" have decided to commit the ultimate act of cowardice by making racist comments towards him.
If you did this, what the hell is wrong with you?
To Ethan Bear, keep up the great work. You have a fan in me. While your playoff run this season came to an end far earlier than you would have liked, I look forward to seeing #74 on the scoresheet for a long time in many playoff runs to come. You're a helluva a player, a better person, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.
That'll be all for tonight, though, as I need some more sleep to function a little more normally tomorrow at work. I'm hopeful that the rant above doesn't apply to many readers who frequent this blog, but it's pretty clear that this sport still needs a lot of fixing to be better for all and more inclusive for all. Let's start making those fixes right here, right now by calling out those who feel this is acceptable behaviour.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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