Last Thursday, former NHL defenceman Brent Sopel released a statement to clarify something.



About a year ago, Sopel went on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast and told a story about an experience he had as a player for Marc Crawford, where the then-Canucks coach kicked him in the back as he sat on the bench after a shift during a game. Here’s the statement, if you haven’t seen it:



Sopel knew Crawford kicking him crossed a line and so did Crawford, who apologized after the game. Yet, Sopel wasn’t on the podcast as a victim, as he put it, he was simply telling a story from his playing days. Sopel noted that individuals are affected differently by similar things, and he moved on from that moment with Crawford just fine. In fact, the statement notes his former coach “found ways to motivate me and make me a better player. He molded me into a player that went on to win a Stanley Cup in Chicago.”



Here’s where the more skeptical...