A Toronto Maple Leafs fan sparked a backlash last week after star forward Auston Matthews threw another man’s hat onto the ice after he scored a hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Matthews scored three points in Thursday night’s game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Fans celebrated by throwing his hats onto the ice, and one man even threw another fan’s hat himself.
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Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs celebrates a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with his teammates at Scotiabank Arena on February 15, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. (Mark Brinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
The fan who had his hat thrown at him turned around and called the man a “shithole.” He was later identified as John Hamilton, who told the Toronto Sun that the hat was a $300 fedora. Hamilton didn’t think the thrower expected the reaction he did, he said.
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“His buddy apologized profusely and bought me and my guest a beer,” Hamilton said. toronto sun. “But the man didn’t say anything. He must have been embarrassed and left after everyone yelled at him.”
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A member of the ice crew puts on a hat after scoring the Maple Leafs’ third goal against Auston Matthews against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 15, 2024 in Toronto. (Mark Brinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
The 73-year-old longtime Maple Leafs fan, who has held season tickets since the 1980s, said he didn’t want the incident to cost him his job.
“I’m definitely going to accept the apology, forgive him, and move on. I got my hat back, and we did some stupid things when we were younger.”
Fortunately, social media supported Hamilton and called for him to get his hat back. Even more fortunately, Hamilton was reportedly able to retrieve his hat within five minutes of the man throwing it onto the ice.
A member of the ice crew picks up the hat of Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs after he scores the third goal at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on February 15, 2024. (Kevin Souza/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Toronto ultimately won in overtime.
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