Support the troops or get fired
ridenrain @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:09 pm
$1:
Hockey player fired for not signing flag for troops
Last Updated: Monday, December 18, 2006 | 3:12 PM AT
CBC News
A Saint John Sea Dogs hockey player has been kicked off the team after he did not sign a Canadian flag to be sent to troops in Afghanistan.
Dave Bouchard, who played left wing on the Quebec Major Junior team, said he thought someone else had already signed his name.
But Sea Dogs coach Jacques Beaulieu does not accept that explanation and cut him from the team on the weekend.
"Morally, we have standards with this hockey team and that's a standard that we believe in," Beaulieu told CBC News Monday.
"I mean, if Dave doesn't believe in it, that's fine. But he won't be part of it. He won't be part of this organization. That's the standard that we set."
Beaulieu said he believes in freedom of expression but added that any player who refused to sign would have been kicked off the team.
"It wouldn't matter who it would have been. It could have been one of our best players, our first round pick."
Bouchard, 20, who last played for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, has gone back to his hometown of Jonquière, Que. He could be traded to another team in the league, but his age makes 2006-07 his last season.
Last Updated: Monday, December 18, 2006 | 3:12 PM AT
CBC News
A Saint John Sea Dogs hockey player has been kicked off the team after he did not sign a Canadian flag to be sent to troops in Afghanistan.
Dave Bouchard, who played left wing on the Quebec Major Junior team, said he thought someone else had already signed his name.
But Sea Dogs coach Jacques Beaulieu does not accept that explanation and cut him from the team on the weekend.
"Morally, we have standards with this hockey team and that's a standard that we believe in," Beaulieu told CBC News Monday.
"I mean, if Dave doesn't believe in it, that's fine. But he won't be part of it. He won't be part of this organization. That's the standard that we set."
Beaulieu said he believes in freedom of expression but added that any player who refused to sign would have been kicked off the team.
"It wouldn't matter who it would have been. It could have been one of our best players, our first round pick."
Bouchard, 20, who last played for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, has gone back to his hometown of Jonquière, Que. He could be traded to another team in the league, but his age makes 2006-07 his last season.
source
Nice to see Canadians patriotic again but this just does not sound right.
hwacker @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:19 pm
ridenrain ridenrain:
Nice to see Canadians patriotic again but this just does not sound right.
Sure it does, signing the flag had nothing to do with HIS freedoms. He’s just another ignorant person living in Canada (without a team to play for)
WBenson @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:41 pm
If he was asked to sign the flag itself, he would be following Canadian Heritage guidelines by refusing.
$1:
The National Flag of Canada should not be signed or marked in any way (A border could be attached to the outside edge of the Flag on which it would be acceptable to have signatures leaving the Flag itself untouched).
stratos @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:44 pm
As a private citizen he chose not to sign thats completely fine. As a private (non public) company his team fired him for not following a directive. I'm perfectly ok with both stances.
bootlegga @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:47 pm
ridenrain ridenrain:
Nice to see Canadians patriotic again but this just does not sound right.
I have to agree with you Riden. Something about it doesn't sit right with me either.
Delwin @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:47 pm
I'd think it was very sad if this guy doesn't support the troops. However, the ultimatum "think like us, or your off of the team" is definetly a charter issue.
SprCForr @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:49 pm
As usual, there's more to it...
The Dog Pound - Unofficial forum of the Saint John Sea Dogs
Regina @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:55 pm
How uninformed is this paper?......or is this just sensationalizing it for the story. He's a junior hockey player and therefore not employed, so it would be very difficult to fire a non-employed person. He was the member of a team that did not want to participate in a team activity. Making it clear that he didn't want to be part of the team, in an activity that wasn't detrimental to his health, is reason enough to be released. My feeling is that this wouldn't have been the first time he want to have "special" status.
hwacker @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:00 pm
Delwin Delwin:
I'd think it was very sad if this guy doesn't support the troops. However, the ultimatum "think like us, or your off of the team" is definetly a charter issue.
What charter ?
The one that guarantees him to get his ass kicked by 90% of the team he joins for not supporting the troops.
Yep I agree, stupid move on his part if he wants to continue playing hockey, maybe a career in ringette is better suited for this guy.
Delwin @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:13 pm
hwacker hwacker:
Delwin Delwin:
I'd think it was very sad if this guy doesn't support the troops. However, the ultimatum "think like us, or your off of the team" is definetly a charter issue.
What charter ?
The one that guarantees him to get his ass kicked by 90% of the team he joins for not supporting the troops.
Yep I agree, stupid move on his part if he wants to continue playing hockey, maybe a career in ringette is better suited for this guy.
Umm, the charter of rights and freedoms :
$1:
Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom
Everyone has the right to think freely, it's why people like you still aren't locked up, I agree it has it's flaws.
Streaker @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:22 pm
Delwin Delwin:
I'd think it was very sad if this guy doesn't support the troops. However, the ultimatum "think like us, or your off of the team" is definetly a charter issue.
Agreed. Bouchard would be a fool not to sue his former team over this.
Delwin @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:32 pm
Streaker Streaker:
Delwin Delwin:
I'd think it was very sad if this guy doesn't support the troops. However, the ultimatum "think like us, or your off of the team" is definetly a charter issue.
Agreed. Bouchard would be a fool not to sue his former team over this.
$1:
In the end, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Commission all agreed. She was right, and the Ontario Human Rights Code - which until then permitted sexual discrimination in amateur sports - was changed, allowing Blainey-Broker to play on a boys' team.
http://www.caaws.ca/e/gender_equity/article.cfm?id=9
His case sounds much stronger, let's not forget he is being kicked off because he may/may not have a differing opinion
GunRunner @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:40 pm
Yes, I think the coach made a mistake canning the bum. He should have kept that pile of parrot dropping on the team, but let him sit on the bench the rest of (his life) the season...
And by the way, the only reason I said the coach made a mistake is because of all the breeding heart liberals we have running around these days that just love to jump on the band wagon for that poor little hockey player and his "rights"........ FUG ME
I for one would have punch that piece of sheet right in the face and phsically thrown him out of the building... But then again, I've had friends over there, and I guess most of you haven't!!
Firecat @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:44 pm
bootlegga bootlegga:
ridenrain ridenrain:
Nice to see Canadians patriotic again but this just does not sound right.
I have to agree with you Riden. Something about it doesn't sit right with me either.
I agree on both counts, ridenrain. It if a guy can be fired in this circumstance then if his bosses suddenly made it their choice to have a petition against the troops they could fire him for refusing to sign that.
Blue_Nose @ Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:46 pm
Who decides what opinions are acceptable for the team? Shouldn't it be the coach?
I don't recall any "right to play hockey" in the Charter, even though it is Canada.