Soakin’ in the Tubb: Remember, they’re just kids

By JAMES TUBB on December 24, 2021.

At what point did it become OK to jump all over the kids at the world juniors?

Because really that’s what they still are, kids. They may be playing hockey on TSN for millions to see and criticize, but they are still young. It wasn’t that long ago all of them had to ask for permission to use the washroom. Now they’re being tabbed with having to be perfect on one of hockey’s biggest stages or else they receive an onslaught of virtual criticism and threats.

Everyone makes mistakes, it’s very cliche but it’s part of being human. For those taking part in the IIHF World Junior Championship, mistakes happen. That is part of the sport where one team makes a mistake and the other capitalizes on it, usually for the win. But does that deserve their social media pages and that of their family members to be filled with hatred? Come on. It seems to have gotten worse over the years and it’s not just Team Canada that gets hit with the opinions of those who probably couldn’t do a crossover but are the first to criticize someone’s effort.

In the 2018 tournament, then New York Rangers prospect Lias Andersson won silver with team Sweden and promptly threw his silver medal into the crowd. At the time Andersson was 20-years-old. He received a lot of criticism for the action and had a lot of people questioning his sportsmanship. After the game he explained that he already had a silver medal from another IIHF tournament and didn’t look at it and that the fan he tossed it to wanted it more.

At the end of the day, it was his medal to do what he wanted with and what did it matter to anyone else? But it’s that quick trigger a lot of fans have developed on social media that makes them think they can say what they want, no matter how far over the line, to these young athletes.

As someone who is only two years older than the kids expected to be perfect while donning the red and white, I can only imagine the pressures put on them during the world juniors. I know if I make a mistake with the little platform I have, it may be a stink for a day or two max but that’s it. If Shane Wright trips up and gives the puck up, allowing a Russian forward to get a breakaway and score, it’s treated like the end of the world.

The world juniors are a big deal, I get it, trust me. I grew up watching Canada have some legendary moments like Jordan Eberle’s tying goal against the Russians in 2009 or Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart dominating the 2015 tournament en route to Canada’s 16th gold medal.

But I’ve never understood the vitriol Team Canada and their captain Max Comtois received in 2019 after missing the medal round as a result of losing to the Finland in a shootout. The then 19 year old was hit with anti-francophone remarks on his Instagram for not scoring. It got bad enough that Comtois’ agency issued a statement on his behalf saying he was proud to wear the Maple Leaf on his chest and don the ‘C’.

What the hell are we doing that kids not only have to deal with their own disappointment of losing on the world stage, but know that they will be attacked by cowards sitting on their couch who have probably over-indulged on Christmas cookies while watching the games.

How does anyone escape that and how much does it lessen the experience for these kids in what could be the highest level they ever play at?

At the end of the day and tournament, they are just people and they are just kids. No one will be tougher on these players than themselves if they make a mistake or don’t bring home the gold. They don’t need some hero behind a keyboard lighting them up to remind them they didn’t achieve what they wanted.

It’s a game. There are winners and losers, and life goes on. Just don’t be a loser on a keyboard and instead enjoy watching the passionate hockey.

James Tubb is sports reporter with the Medicine Hat News. He can be reached at jtubb@medicinehatnews.com