The Chicago Blackhawks are a franchise dedicated to their rebuilding efforts. The team boasts numerous talented players, among them a standout prospect, Connor Bedard, who began his tenure with the team in the 2023-24 season. Nonetheless, he continues to seek his role on the ice, yet he has recently found himself burdened by a series of penalties.
In the NHL, penalties are certainly a frequent occurrence, but how often do you hear of a player receiving a 10-minute penalty multiple times throughout their career? In hockey, 10 minutes can feel like an eternity. When Connor Bedard received his first penalty during the third period of the match against the San Jose Sharks, he remarked, “I don’t think it was too crazy, but he’s the ref, so he gets to make that call. You don’t really expect that, but it happens.” In a swift move, Blackhawks coach Anders Sorensen came forward to back him, stating, “I’ve heard worse.” What was the reason behind that penalty?
During the third period of the game, the Sharks maintained their lead over the Hawks, bolstered by Tyler Toffoli’s early open net goal. With 9:10 remaining, Bedard received a 10-minute penalty for “abuse of officials,” resulting in his exclusion from the rest of the match. However, this specific 10-minute penalty has come to light once more for the Blackhawks forward, occurring during the match against the Vancouver Canucks.
On X, B/R Open Ice shared a video reporting, “Connor Bedard was assessed a 10-minute conduct for the second straight game, and threw his helmet in frustration ” What actions did Bedard take? In a moment of clear frustration, he tossed his helmet aside as he made his way into the locker room. Emotions peak during hockey games, and given that this penalty occurred in the game’s closing moments, it likely provoked a strong reaction from Bedard.
Connor Bedard was assessed a 10-minute conduct for the second straight game, and threw his helmet in frustration pic.twitter.com/c1g1bFKYDq
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 16, 2025
However, on this occasion, the penalty was imposed for an entirely different reason. What exactly was that? It was labeled as “misconduct” in relation to Filip Hronek. However, he was not the sole casualty of this specific 10-minute penalty. Frank Nazar, Filip Hronek, and Conor Garland also received similar penalties. Nonetheless, in the wake of Bedard’s display of frustration, the fans expressed their dissatisfaction with him.
Blackhawks fans are not defending Connor Bedard anymore
During the game against the San Jose Sharks, when Connor Bedard faced a comparable penalty, remarks such as “It’s a sport where punching somebody is a 5 minute penalty. Naughty words being 10 minutes is ridiculous,” were made. However, the story took a different turn this time, as one fan remarked, “What a baby.” In a related sentiment, another supporter voiced their disappointment with the hockey forward, remarking, “Weak mental.” A striking remark stated, “Get him out of Chicago.”
Certainly, previously, the supporters sought a response from the official. Even Mark Lazerus covered this incident on the rink, aligning with fans’ sentiment, stating, “Tonight’s a good example of why referees should be made available to reporters. We should be able to get Chris Rooney’s explanation for why Bedard got the 10-minute misconduct. But this being the NHL, we never will.”
Accusations were directed at Chris Rooney in the wake of his decision. Having refereed more than 1500 games in his tenure, he is also not your typical referee. So the atmosphere was thick with uncertainty. Yet, with a change in perspective, this supporter remarked, “Bedard frustrations showing.” One supporter expressed disappointment in Bedard, remarking, “Can’t even throw his helmet right.”
Bedard plays a vital role in the Blackhawks’ offensive strategy. Nonetheless, penalties at critical junctures in games will not only tarnish his pursuit of greatness but also hinder the team’s performance.
The post “Baby”: Blackhawks Star Mocked by Fans Over Recent Violation appeared first on EssentiallySports.
