Leafs forced to take action with Cedric Pare's social media account due to online threats
The Maple Leafs took drastic steps after Cedric Pare faced harassment and threats following his hit on Montreal's Patrik Laine, deactivating his social media accounts to protect him.
During a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens, Pare collided knee-on-knee with Laine, causing a serious injury that forced Laine off the ice. Fortunately, Laine avoided surgery and won't be out for the entire year, though he'll still miss a few months.
Although the hit wasn't intentional, many Montreal fans believed it was payback for Michael Pezzetta's earlier hit on John Tavares. Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj reacted by attacking Pare, which led to Xhekaj's ejection and a fine. To protect Pare from the wave of online threats and harassment that followed, the Maple Leafs deactivated his social media accounts.
Laine himself spoke to the media and expressed no hard feelings toward Pare, understanding that it was an unfortunate hockey accident. He admitted that incidents like this happen & should not lead to hostility especially since Pare has no history of being a dirty a player.
It's obviously frustrating to see a player like Laine sidelined especially after overcoming challenges in recent seasons but it's also important to remember that accidents happen in hockey. Harassing or threatening a player for such incidents is unacceptable. It's important for fans to focus on the sport with passion & respect rather than spreading hate.
