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Hockey has had a — uh — rough history with homophobic language, to say the least.
Most notably, former Blackhawks winger Andrew Shaw was suspended one game and fined last April during the playoffs for using a slur against an opponent. Now, it appears other NHL players are fighting back publicly against the use of such language.
After a rather heated game between the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres, a Sabres fan came at Bruins winger Brad Marchand with a rather offensive homophobic tweet. Complete with a gay slur!
Marchand had none of it.
This derogatory statement is offensive to so many people around the world your the kind of kid parents are ashamedof https://t.co/sfVcEOPC4J
— Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) December 30, 2016
The fan tried to delete his tweet, but it was too late. The screenshots had begun.
@DJ_Redd_Baron your not getting off that easy bud https://t.co/g6oBoKX4XN
— Brad Marchand (@Bmarch63) December 30, 2016
@jimmypls1 @Bmarch63 @BruinsDiehards pic.twitter.com/C7hnM8WvXo
— Corey (@Riouinsuiko) December 30, 2016
Good for Marchand for calling out this language, which is quickly becoming taboo across all sports. In 2015, NBA player Rajon Rondo was roundly criticized for also directing a homophobic slur at a referee.
The NHL is partnered with the You Can Play project, a social activism campaign dedicated to removing homophobia from sports.