James Reimer latest NHL player to face fan backlash after releasing statement
If you ask anyone who has ever crossed paths with James Reimer they'd tell you just how positive and infectious his personality is. The goaltender's career has crossed 13 seasons with 4 different teams. Everywhere he's went teammates have sung their praise for him.
Fans throughout his career have loved the goalie's team first attitude and infectious smile. But like so often it only takes one thing for fans to turn against someone in today's NHL. For James Reimer the happened today.
Ahead of tonight's San Jose Sharks Pride Night, Reimer and the team announced that he would not be taking part in the pre-game Pride jersey wearing. Instead Reimer would elect to remain in the locker room.
Reimer issued the following statement:
FOR ALL 13 YEARS OF MY NHL CAREER, I HAVE BEEN A CHRISTIAN NOT JUST IN TITLE, BUT IN HOW I CHOOSE TO LIVE MY LIFE DAILY. I HAVE A PERSONAL FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR MY SINS AND, IN RESPONSE, ASKS ME TO LOVE EVERYONE AND FOLLOW HIM. I HAVE NO HATE IN MY HEART FOR ANYONE, AND I HAVE ALWAYS STRIVED TO TREAT EVERYONE THAT I ENCOUNTER WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS.
IN THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE, I AM CHOOSING NOT TO ENDORSE SOMETHING THAT IS COUNTER TO MY PERSONAL CONVICTIONS WHICH ARE BASED ON THE BIBLE, THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY IN MY LIFE.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON HAS VALUE AND WORTH, AND THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY, LIKE ALL OTHERS, SHOULD BE WELCOMED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE GAME OF HOCKEY.
JAMES REIMER
Rather than accepting that Reimer's belief system is different than their own, fans immediately went on the uncalled for attack.
This is just a other controversy that the NHL doesn't need and will most certainly look at in the future.
Update Captain Logan Couture issued the following statement
| POLL | ||
Should the NHL scrap Pride nights? | ||
| Yes, get rid of it | 778 | 73.2 % |
| No, but don't force players to participate | 285 | 26.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
