Hey Colin Kaepernick, are you proud of yourself?

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. …,” the former San Francisco 49er explained to media after starting the disrespecting the anthem trend. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Yes folks, hockey players are a more respectful bunch. Guys like the now unemployed Kaepernick, and the few hundred other copycats with the inability to come up with an original protest, would get taken care of in the room for doing something so idiotic.

Funny thing is, I don’t remember seeing such a protest from any National Hockey League player. There was a single baseball player that decided to kneel this past week.

Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell, who is African-American and comes from a military family, chose to kneel with his hand on his heart while facing the flag in solidarity with the NFL players who continue to protest racism and inequalities in America.

And as for Kaepernick, the quarterback who inspired the anthem protests, no owner has deemed him worthy of job, despite widespread handicapping that, while not in his prime, he certainly still is of a caliber to play.

“Stephen, in all honesty I think Kaepernick originally was sitting on the bench as a method of sulking for not being named starting QB. When he was questioned on this, he came up with the story of sitting for racial issues,” Canadian hockey fan Dave Williams posted last fall. “Where is Kaepernick every weekend when blacks kill blacks in every major city? The issue with Kaepernick has nothing to do with sports, but it has to do with one poor sport, Colin Kaepernick.”

Still hockey is different. While others within the sports world have put themselves into the debate in regards to the anthem, the National Hockey League has remained silent.

Hockey players want nothing less than to stand out from their teammates as an individual.

It is why a player who scores the game-winner spends the first two or three questions in his post-game interview crediting his linemates. Or why the guy playing with an injury won’t talk about it, because everyone else is playing with injury. It’s just what’s done.

As President Donald Trump feuded with basketball and football players on Saturday, that same day the Stanley Cup champions accepted their invitation to the White House.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins respect the institution of the Office of the President, and the long tradition of championship teams visiting the White House," the team said in a statement. "Any agreement or disagreement with a president's politics, policies or agenda can be expressed in other ways."

"I support it," Crosby said. "It's a great honor for us to be invited there."

The comment is not surprising. Hockey players just don’t use the game to weigh in on political issues.

“I don’t know. My great-uncle served, I have friends and family who’ve served, there are men and women who have risked their lives for the United States, people who have died for the United States,” American born superstar Auston Matthews explained. “To me I don’t know if kneeling, sitting, stretching is something I’d really look into doing because to me it’s like a dishonor to the men and women who fight for that flag and fight for the US. I don’t think I’d be one of the people to take part in that.”

While in Blaine last week, I had the privilege of watching 24 teams (including the US National Team Development Program), honor the flag and anthem without protest. I can’t help but wonder if the thought ever even entered those players’ minds.

The argument also hits close to home.

The Heisler family are strong supporters of our military, law enforcement, firefighters, and all emergency responders. My brother Christopher is the founder of the United States Honor Flag, an organization that began as a tribute following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists' attacks. The Flag serves as a traveling memorial to Heroes who lost their lives while serving their communities and country.

During the recent hurricanes that hit Texas and Florida, I personally witnessed the issues of race and politics take a back seat to survival and humanity. I was proud to be an American and happy to see people being good to each other.

It’s amazing how quickly that’s forgotten. I had a nice young lady give me the finger yesterday as she passed in her car. My law enforcement license plate may not have mixed well with her Black Lives Matter sticker.

So be it, I'll continue standing for those that can't...and only hoping the best for those that decide to kneel, sit, or otherwise dishonor the Anthem, Flag, and Country.

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Stephen Heisler has spent a lifetime in the game of hockey. Stephen is also working with individual teams, coaches, and players as a director with the Heisler Hockey Group. Stephen, his wife Deysi, and four children reside in Orlando, Florida.