PC College Students Push For Nashville Predators Name Change Because of "Stigma" Attached To It

By Tony Mangia

Well, the PC Police are at it again and — to no one's surprise — the roll out of another politically correct crusade started on a college campus.

A group of students at Emory University in Atlanta are politicking the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators to change their name to the Nashville Sabercats to shield sensitive minds from the stigmas associated with the word "predator."

Students suggest rebranding NHL’s Nashville Predators to the Sabercats to get away from stigmas associated with the word “predator”#NHL #Nashville @PredsNHL @sport_analytic pic.twitter.com/wPycYck3Ck

— Emory MAC (@Emory_MAC) February 19, 2019

Never mind that the budding social justice warriors are sticking their noses into another city's business (Don't they have enough problems with the Atlanta Braves name?) they don't seem to understand that the word "predator" has been around since cavemen grunted it at real life saber tooth tigers many hockey periods ago.

It was during a Power Point presentation in a marketing class where a section of Emory's fine student body proposed that the "Predators" should rebrand the name because the word has the offensive connotation of weird guys stalking women and perverts chasing minors via the internet. It wasn't the first call for a Nashville Predators name change. It began about a year ago through a Change.org petition sent to that relentless hidden camera, predator-catcher Chris Hansen — the television newser, who surprised morally-insolvent pervs in kitchens of "minors" all over America and on camera. The petition has now been closed (It had 10 supporters) presumably because Hansen is too busy dealing with his own personal bankruptcy issues.

The Emory marketing project also included rebranding proposals for sports teams like changing the name of the Oakland Athletics to the Oakland Guardians to represent the city's "rough reputation." That's odd because the initials O.G. have a way more violent connotation in most gang-ridden cities like Oakland. And then some students pushed for the soon-to-be Las Vegas Raiders to become the Bandits. I don't know about you, but Bandits sends me looking for a safe space faster than Predators.

Students want to rebrand #Oakland @Athletics to the Guardians. Team says new name reflects Oakland’s rough reputation. Oakland G’s reflect long history of winning#Athletics #OaklandAthletics pic.twitter.com/qOYYx24GQ2

— Emory MAC (@Emory_MAC) February 19, 2019

I'm sure some easily offended and attention-seeking students will somehow start a movement and find a way to disparage other NHL teams named after hungry prey-chasing animals — Panthers, Coyotes and Sharks — or deadly natural disasters — Hurricanes, Lightning, Avalanche or Flames — weapons — Sabres — or maybe the just plain stupid — the Blue Jackets.

For me, the team name that really represents death, disasters, perverts and preying on the innocent is the Senators. Now that's offensive.

'Seinfeld's' David Puddy shows up at Devils game in full face paint mode

If you are a Seinfeld fan, and most of us are, you remember Patrick Warburton, aka David Puddy, as the Neanderthal-like, on-again off-again boyfriend of Elaine Benes who took being a New Jersey Devils fan to another level — and actually dragged a reluctant Jerry into his over-the-top fanaticism.

On Wednesday night, Puddy showed up in face paint during Game 4 at the Devils-Lightning game at the Prudential Center in Newark, and even took off his jersey to show off a painted on "D" on his chest. He could have used his fellow cast mates to finish spelling out E-V-I-L-S, but maybe Warburton was just showing off. He still looked to be in pretty good shape considering the show has been of the air for 20 years. 

Hey, this is the #StanleyCup Playoffs. You gotta let them know you're out there. LET'S GET IT ON! #TBLvsNJD | #NowWeRise pic.twitter.com/Ky8QpQeqhd

— x - New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 19, 2018

In the original episode, Puddy razzed Kramer over the Devils victory.

New Jersey lost last night and trails 3-1 in the series against Tampa Bay. Now it's the Devils turn to hope for some divine intervention — maybe from above. Something like three straight.

EIHL hockey player goes over glass to attack opponent in penalty box (VIDE)

During Sunday’s Elite Ice Hockey League game between the Manchester Storm and the Fife Flyers, Storm left wing Devin DiDiomete was sent to the penalty box for a check to the head of Danny Stewart, the Flyers forward and associate coach in the UK league.

Seconds later, DiDiomete was told he was ejected and began his skate of shame back to the locker room, but not before he managed to get in a few more words to Stewart.

That when You talkin' to me, mate? turned into fisticuffs after DiDiomete pulled himself over the glass into the penalty box and began punching his opponent.

After the game, Manchester also filed a complaint with the Department of Player Safety that DiDiomete had been bitten before his ejection.

Decisions on both incidents are expected to be made on Wednesday.

Martin Brodeur calls hockey 'too dangerous of a game': Report

Since joining the St. Louis Blues as a senior advisor last week, newly retired goaltender Martin Brodeur has been giving the team reports looking down from a scouting booth. But now the NHL veteran wants everyone to know about the ever-evolving game from the perspective of 20 years in front of the net too.

Brodeur spoke with Sportsnet to discuss what he likes and what he’d like to change about the game the future Hall of Famer played for almost his entire life.

The 42-year-old former New Jersey Devils legend pointed to the speed of the game and the resulting hits as something that he dislikes.

"It’s too tough of a game, too dangerous of a game. I think it goes… all the speed that they wanted to bring into the game, it kind of makes it up on those tough hits and it’s hard for the players to police themselves. First of all because fighting is going away from the game,” said Brodeur. “You have a lot of guys that are taking liberties and some guys they don’t, but because the game is so fast, they don’t have time to react to a lot of things.

"The dangerous part of the game, the accidents, some of the head injuries needs to get cleaned out."

Brodeur didn’t know exactly how the league needs to go about changing the game, but did have a couple of suggestions.

“The trapezoid has to go. I think the goalies have to help their players a little bit more, but a lot of the hits come because there’s no interference,” Brodeur said. “Put in the interference on the table for the players to use to help each other.

“In the neutral zone I understand the guy skating 100 miles an hour with the puck nobody should touch him, but when you see your guys getting lined up, you should be able to hook that guy a little bit to make him realize ‘hey, you got to stop buddy, you can’t hit him’. But if he does that, the guy gets a penalty. Interference needs to get back in the game.”

Brodeur was in Philadelphia on Saturday night scouting the Flyers and Leafs as part of his new role with St. Louis and spoke with NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman about his new vantage point on top of the ice.

“I think it’s a lot easier to judge people from up here,” Brodeur said. “That’s where I’m trying to find the way of doing it, the right way of doing it, to give the best input I can knowing that two weeks ago, three weeks ago I was the one down there.

“Hockey’s hockey. Right here I think it exposes it a little bit, but it’s all productive.”

Angry hockey dad breaks glass with wedding ring (VIDEO)

An rabid hockey dad got a little upset with a missed penalty call during youth league game and took out his frustration on the glass.

The d-bag parent punches the glass during a tournament in York, Penn. and sends shards all over the ice. Listen for another parent yell out, "Way to go, Paul" after the childish stunt.

The arena's president said the man's wedding ring concentrated the impact causing the safety glass to crumble, reported The York Daily Record.

"He broke the (wedding) ring," Menzer said. "Apparently, his hand wasn't in great shape either."

Hockey player clotheslines himself after game misconduct (VIDEO)

A Midwest Junior Hockey League player received a game misconduct for spearing an opponent and came pretty close to using the same stick to lop off his own head as he was leaving the ice.

Mitchell Skiba, a defenseman for the Alpena Flyers, got clotheslined with his own stick as he was exiting the rink — giving himself a giant taste of irony to go with his embarrassment.

Hockey goalie rushes into stands to perform CPR on fan: Report

We've all heard of heart-stopping saves by hockey goalies. Well how about a heart-saving one?

That's what happened when a amateur Canadian hockey league netminder rushed into the stands to perform CPR on a man who collapsed struggling for breath minutes before the Gander Flyers took to the rink in Gander, Newfoundland.

Wearing skates, hockey pants and one giant shin pad, 26-year-old Patrick O'Brien raced out of the locker room to help the man who had no pulse, reported the Gander Beacon.

Luckily for the unidentified man, O'Brien recently graduated from a medical program in June and is now a paramedic.

“I just hopped in and started chest compressions,” he said after the man was taken to a local hospital and reported to be in stable condition. 

“There was lots of help,” said O’Brien, who made sure to single out the assistance of others later on Twitter:

Thanks very much for the kind words. Thanks as well to @whalen110 and Claude Elliott and all others on scene. Great work. @GanderFlyers
— Patty (@PatrickOBrien29) November 23, 2014

O'Brien played down his heroics.

"It wasn't just me," he said. "Anyone would have done what I did. I guess it's just where it was at the rink and I had some of my gear on. But it's what I do."

Yes he does — making saves both on and off the ice.

Two guys showed up for the Winter Classic and got the All-Star Game instead (PHOTO)

We know that the Polar Vortex sweeping across the Midwest already has lots of hearty Minnesotans getting their mittens and snow boots out of storage this summer — but these two guys showed up at the All-Star Game looking like they were ready for the NHL Winter Classic.

Maybe there was a pick-up game on the frozen Target Field parking lot later.

They came straight from a pond hockey All-Star Game: pic.twitter.com/HgTcG6NB97
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 16, 2014

Security guard beaten outside Yankee Stadium hockey game sues NYPD: Report

A security guard claims he was beaten up by hockey fans after a Stadium Series game outside Yankee Stadium while the NYPD iced their response time.

Eric MacFarlane says he suffered a fractured skull, a broken nose and other injuries during the brutal  beat-down after the Rangers-Islanders rivalry game on January 29 — and now he’s planning a $5 million suit against the city, reports the N.Y. Daily News.

MacFarlane was working for Securitas security company when he was posted outside of the Stadium on the frigid night. He and his partner were stationed in a converted Port-A-Potty with a space heater to keep warm.

The Daily News reported:

A drunken fan leaving the game who needed to use a toilet became irate when he opened the door to the john and saw it wasn’t a toilet.

The man and his pals all ganged up on MacFarlane, he said, and pummeled him on a police car.

MacFarlane said slow-moving cops didn’t come to his aid until after he’d been knocked unconscious. He said he told officers he needed medical help — and they took him to a security office inside the Stadium instead of to an ambulance positioned nearby.

MacFarlane’s lawyer Peter Gleason said the police, Securitas and the Yankees “didn’t provide even a minimal level of protection.” He filed a notice of claim, the first step in filing a lawsuit, last month.

A rep for the city Law Department said the filing would be reviewed thoroughly.

Putin scores six goals for Russian 'NHL Stars' hockey team (VIDEO)

He's the world leader famous for riding a horse shirtless, cuddling a polar bear and stirring up things in the Ukraine.

Now Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest exploit had him lacing up some skates and getting ice time with some of Russia's greatest hockey legends in front of thousands of apparently adoring fans Saturday.

Sporting the number 11 jersey, the 61-year-old Putin returned to the Winter Olympics host city of Sochi as a member of the "NHL Stars" team for the All-Russia Festival of Night Hockey League and finished the game with six goals with five assists.

But the Russian sportsman got a little assistance from a timid defense and his teammates — made up of former Russian NHL stars — who gave the puck a gentle nudge in the right direction if his shots didn't hit the back of the net on their own.

Joining the Stars' team, Putin took a break from crisis talks with the West about his annexing of Crimea to play alongside retired former Soviet hockey legends, including Vyacheslav Fetisov and Pavel Bure.

At least two of his team-mates were Olympic medal winners, including Aleksey Kasatonov, who won two golds for the Soviet Union in 1984 and 1988, and Valery Kamensky, who also took gold in 1988.

The Stars' lopsided 21-4 victory is  unusual by normal hockey standards, but not uncommon for Putin's team, which is known for trouncing its opponents.

Those opponents, meanwhile, were reportedly amateurs who probably knew "he shoots, he scores" really means if he shoots, he better score.

NYC cops and firemen in wild brawl during charity hockey game (VIDEO)

They may not have the playmaking skills of the NHL but,  when it comes to dropping the gloves on the ice, the pros have nothing on New York City's finest and bravest. That fact was apparent when a bench-clearing brawl broke out during a charity hockey game between New York City cops and firefighters on Sunday at Nassau Coliseum.

The wild scene erupted in the second period as referees struggled to control multiple, one-on-one battles. Sticks and gloves littered the ice during the disturbing incident.

It was 3-3 when the second-period violence broke out. The NYPD eventually beat their NYFD rivals 8-5.

The brawl led to a 25-minute delay as equipment was picked up and refs made long lists of penalized and ejected players.

Despite numerous black eyes and bruises, no players appeared to be seriously injured.

And at least there were enough first responders in the house if things got out of hand.



While the goalies just watched the mayhem.

University of Ottawa men's hockey team suspended over sexual assault: Report

Police are investigating allegations of a sexual assault involving multiple hockey players from the University of Ottawa which has prompted the indefinite suspension of the entire men’s team and coaching staff, and renewed concerns about “rape culture” on campuses.

On Monday, the university announced that it had benched the entire men’s hockey program over an “incident involving some” of its members against a young woman during a recent road trip to Thunder Bay.

“The university has assured the police that it will co-operate fully with whatever investigation they may initiate,” university spokesman Patrick Charette told reporters at a news conference. Charette was light on specifics, saying only that a “third party” had tipped them off to “allegations of serious misconduct” involving the team, which they had then passed on to Thunder Bay Police.

The Gee-Gees have 26 men on their 2013-14 roster, although authorities have refused to say how many are directly connected to the alleged sexual assault, or why they felt the need to suspend the entire team.

The alleged assault took place when the U of O visited Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., for a pair of games on Jan. 31 and Feb 1. But the university only learned of the allegations on Feb. 24 through “a third party,” the school said in a statement.

The next day, the university gave its information to the Thunder Bay police, who confirmed on Monday they are in the “initial stages” of an investigation.

The men’s hockey season at U of O ended Feb. 21 with a playoff loss. Until further notice, team members can attend classes and academic activities, but are barred from sports and athletic facilities. 

AHL Penguins to wear commemorative Miracle on Ice uniform (PHOTO)

When the USA hockey team plays Russia in Sochi on Saturday, it will mark the 34th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice — arguably the greatest moment in American sports history and a story that will be repeated by NBC announcers leading up to the game until the sound of Al Michaels voice makes your ears bleed.

To commemorate that glorious bronze medal game between the old Cold War rivals, the AHL's Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins will host the Providence Bruins during  an Olympic Hockey Celebration night and wear altered versions of iconic white sweaters Team USA wore in 1980 up in Lake Placid.

But the Penguins are bringing them back with a slight change — WBS replaces USA across the chest. Otherwise they are the same.

Granted, WBS across your chest doesn't have the same national pride as USA but it's the sentiment that counts. And these special-occasion jerseys will be available after the game for auction to benefit charity.

1980 was the last time a U.S. hockey team stood on the gold medal podium at an Olympics, so maybe the Penguins' special unis will be an inspiration for their own team.

WBS! WBS! WBS!

Apparently drunk hockey goalie stumbles around in front of net (VIDEO)

Drinking and ice skating are never a good combination but, when a Czech hockey goalie apparently mixed the two, it showed what happens when you confuse Jaromir Jagr with Jagermeister.

These hilarious videos are reportedly from an amateur league game in the Czech Republic via Reddit.

In case you're wondering if anyone scored on the stumbling goalie, the bottom video shows the goalie's wobbly attempt at stopping the puck— to even more laughs.

As they say in the C.R., Na zdrav.

Minor league hockey player suffers gruesome facial cut from skate blade (PHOTOS)

Sebastien Courcelles is one tough hockey player. He’s the captain of the Thetford-Mines Isothermic of the Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey, a low level semi-pro minor league based in Quebec that specializes in goon warfare. And yes, those are stitches —and too many to count — on his face in the photo below.

During a game in Saguenay,Quebec Saturday against the Trois-Rivieres Viking, Courcelles was checked by Jean-Michel Bolduc and fell to the ice. Then Bolduc’s skate inadvertently slashed open his cheek.

At first Courcelles didn’t know how bad it was. He just knew he was bleeding. Then he heard his brother Simon Courcelles, who also plays for Isothermic, shouting at him to apply pressure and then telling someone to call 911. And because his brother also happens to be a paramedic, at that point he knew it would be bad.

WARNING: Graphic photos after the jump.

Hockey goal triggers nearly 26,000 teddy bears tossed to ice (VIDEO)

Despite the Calgary Hitmen's menacing name, the Canadian major junior hockey team has an old tradition that makes them downright cuddly.

The Teddy Bear Toss has been around for nearly two decades, benefiting many local charities but, over the last few seasons, it has become an amazing spectacle.

Sunday night, the Western Hockey League team — which shares the Scotiabank Saddledome as a home arena with the NHL's Calgary Flames — welcomed a crowd of 17,199 who were ready to toss the stuffed bears as soon as the Hitmen scored their first goal.

It took a little while, but forward Pavel Padakin triggered a torrential downpour almost 26,000 of the fuzzy friends at the 3:42 mark of the second period.

Padakin even makes teddy bear angels on the ice in a pile of the little guys.

The official count from the team for 2013 was 25,921 bears, which tops last year's number. The assorted bears will handed out to sick children at the Alberta Children's Hospital and to animal shelters as chew toys.

What a great tradition.

Check out a photo gallery of all the action from the @PetroCanada Teddy Bear Toss! http://t.co/3g45a4NVFk pic.twitter.com/UDQD3qMYhL
— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) December 2, 2013

Islanders take LIRR to get first look at new home inside Barclays Center

How do you get  play hockey at Barclays Center? Practice, practice, practice. Then take the LIRR.

That's exactly how the Islanders got to say Hello Brooklyn and get a look at their future home on Thursday after taking the Long Island Railroad to the ice inside Brooklyn’s House That Jay Z Built for training camp.

The team left together from Garden City, Long Island and took the commuter train to Atlantic Avenue, simulating the trek from the Island will have to make in order to watch their team once the Isles vacate their Nassau County home for  Brooklyn after the 2014-2015 season.

“I think there’s one word for it, it’s beautiful,” Islanders owner Charles Wang said of Barclays. “I’m very happy as you can see from the smile.”

Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark and Wang say the team will keep the same colors and nickname when the NHL franchise moves to Brooklyn.

Yormark did say that the Islanders would likely introduce a patch on their uniforms and unveil an alternate home jersey in order to "speak to Brooklyn fans in an authentic way."

The Islanders will face off against the Devils in a preseason game on Sept. 21, the first NHL game ever to be played in Brooklyn.

“It’s going to be fun,” center Casey Cizikas said. “You could see when the Nets played in the playoffs last year against the Bulls, it was rocking and we’re going to be looking forward to the same thing. I think it’s going to be even louder for us.”

While the building was primarily built to accommodate basketball and concerts, Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark says obstructed view seating will not be offered for hockey games, leaving the sellable capacity at 15,813.

"My job is to work with Charles and make sure that we stay true to the hardcore fan,"said Yormark. "The fan that has been there from day one. But at the same time, we also want to connect with the new fan and we’re going to do it in an appropriate way."

Though the New York Americans played their final NHL season in 1941-42 as the Brooklyn Americans, they played all their games at the Garden and practiced at the Brooklyn Ice Palace.

"It definitely feels really new," captain John Tavares said.

"It’s going to take some time once we really do get here to make it feel comfortable and feel right at home," said Tavares.  "But it’s a beautiful place and in a couple of years it’ll be a nice move. ... It’ll almost feel like playing in a neutral site, but we’re looking forward to the game." 

Outrage over students wearing KKK hoods at high school hockey game

School administrators in North Dakota are looking into an incident involving three young fans wearing Ku Klux Klan-type white robes and hoods at a boys hockey game Friday night.

A photo of the hood-wearing trio was posted on Twitter by University of North Dakota student Shane Schuster — who was taking in the game at the university's Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks — during a state playoff game between North Forks (N.D.) Red River High and Fargo (N.D.) Davies High.

Schuster posted the photo with the message: " I guess the red river highschoolers are racist?"

The racist garb was apparently a knuckle headed attempt to join in on the Red River fans' whiteout — where the spectators flood the stands in white duds.

The three unnamed culprits are reportedly all freshmen who put on the offending hoods for about 30 seconds before they were angrily told to remove them by surrounding fans, said witnesses.

Red River principal Kris Arason has already identified the teens who donned the hoods, reaching out to their parents and telling the press that "appropriate action is being taken."

"We, as a school, are extremely disappointed with the behavior of these three students," Arason said in a statement. "This behavior is not a representation of our school or student body."

Red River defeated Davies 2-0.

Russian meteorite damages KHL arena, threatens postseason play

The meteorite that that streamed across the Russian sky Friday morning and shook the countryside might pose some problems for the KHL postseason.

The hockey league announced Friday morning that the arena for Traktor Chelyabinsk was damaged by the space rock and, as a result all events at the facility have been postponed.

The team was on the road, but was supposed to host a KHL playoff game on Thursday.

The meteor shower — which struck Chelyabinsk and injured nearly 1,000 people — was captured on  amateur videos.  You can hear explosions and glass shattering on this fascinating shot.



The KHL said the sports facility will undergo an inspection by experts to "assess the readiness of the arena to full operational use."

The knockout stages of the Gagarin Cup get underway on Wednesday, and Traktor is due to start the playoffs with home games on Feb. 21 and 22.

13 players ejected in wild benches-clearing AHL hockey brawl

An insane benches-clearing brawl broke out in the middle of an AHL hockey game and, when the mayhem settled, 13 players were ejected from the game during the second period of the Saturday night rumble.

The wild donnybrook broke out between the Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Black Hawks affiliate) and  Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings affiliate) players during "Pink in the Rink Night" to raise money to fight breast cancer research.

When the dust had settled, it might have been better named Red on the Rink night.




The IceHogs — wearing pink jerseys — trailed 6-3 when the succession of fights broke out.  Even the goalies dropped their gloves (always a crowd-pleaser) and tangled between themselves.

When the game was over, the teams had racked up 230 penalty minutes with four battles combined.

Oh yeah, the Griffins won, 11-6.