The Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) have been fined $15,000 following a post-playoff game news conference on Monday night. During the conference, the team’s coach and captain, Dylan Smoskowitz and Kashawn Aitcheson, responded to media questions by repeatedly saying, “No one cares, work harder.”
The fine was imposed after the Colts secured a 5-0 victory over the Brantford Bulldogs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, advancing them to the OHL title series against the Kitchener Rangers.
Smoskowitz and Aitcheson’s minimalistic responses at the media availability drew attention. When asked about his goal and teammate Ben Hrebik’s performance, Aitcheson simply reiterated, “No one cares, work harder.” Similarly, Smoskowitz responded in a similar fashion when questioned about losing Game 4 and winning the series.
Smoskowitz later acknowledged his mistake in an interview with TSN’s Overdrive, attributing his behavior to the restriction of not having the entire team present during the conference. He admitted regret over his actions and emphasized the importance of professionalism.
The OHL deemed the comments made by the Colts’ representatives as “highly unprofessional” and fined the team for conduct detrimental to the league’s public image. The league emphasized the importance of maintaining professional standards during media interactions.
Despite the controversy, the Colts are set to face the Kitchener Rangers in the J. Ross Robertson Cup championship series. Both teams expressed excitement and readiness for the upcoming games. The Rangers’ forward, Sam O’Reilly, highlighted the honor of reaching the OHL finals and expressed confidence in his team’s abilities.
The championship series will kick off in Kitchener, with Game 2 scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Subsequent games will alternate between Kitchener and Barrie, with the possibility of up to seven games in the series. The teams are prepared for an intense and competitive matchup as they vie for the championship title.