When he said on Tuesday he’d bench any American player who doesn’t stand for the national anthem at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, the coach of Team USA meant it.
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“I know these are hockey games … but I do look at it like it’s for my country”, Tortorella told the Columbus Dispatch on the opening day of camp.
“It’s making headlines and everything”, said US goalie Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils. I feel very strongly of being able to say what you want to say (when) you are upset about things. I’m the furthest thing away from being anything political. No chance getting involved in that stuff. (But) this is your anthem. That shouldn’t come into play for a second.
The Team USA hockey team apparently does not receive government funding, and is therefore not bound by the First Amendment. “There are other ways of doing things”. This gentleman who spoke to us this morning is doing the real stuff. We dont expect any American player to stay put once the 2016 World Cup of Hockey gets underway on September 17 in Toronto.
Tortorella’s son serves as a U.S. Army Ranger.
Tortorella has been criticized in some circles for his remarks, yet he remains resolute in his views, saying, “I don’t know what’s being written … and I don’t care”.
“Because the world is looking at you and to have people not representing and being unified, I think that’s a problem”, said Kate Hirsch.
“You can protest. You have a right to protest”. But to drag an anthem in and a flag in?
Tortorella, always outspoken, said his players supported his initial thoughts with ESPN. “So by a coach telling them that, I think that’s fair”.
“This is your anthem, this is your flag”.
The whole controversy started after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose to sit, then kneel, for the national anthem during NFL preseason games.
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“It’s a situation you wish was maybe handled a little differently”, Pavelski said. “Everybody has their opinion, and they are entitled to that”. Kelly said, “it’s not my right to tell him not to do something”. “We’ve gone through it”, he said.
