Heatley gets jeered, cheered at Team Canada red and white game

by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 28, 2009 7:37 PM EDT

Hilarious. I didn't get to see the beginning of Team Canada's red and white exhibition game last night, but reports are saying even fans in his hometown of Calgary are a little sour on Dany Heatley's trade request this off-season. When Heatley's name was announced before the game, and just about any time he touched the puck throughout, Heatley was met with boos from the sold out crowd.

But he won't likely lose any sleep over it, judging from his reaction as posted by James Gordon on Hockey Capital:

"Hey, what are you going to do? They’re hockey fans. They have opinions on things. I think I got a few cheers at the end (after scoring in the shootout), so that’s fine."
Unfair?

"A little bit," he said. "That’s what’s going to happen in a situation like this when it became public. That was unfortunate that it did and people are going to react to that."

You've got to wonder how this might affect Heatley's actions in the coming weeks. Although his comments make it seem like water off a duck's back, some bloggers are suggesting this could give added pressure to Heatley to find any deal he can out of Ottawa, in case that somehow lessens the criticism he'll take in every building in the NHL--and the San Jose Sharks' recent salary-dump trade of Brad Lukowich and Christian Ehrhoff has just added fuel to the fire, despite TSN's Darren Dreger's contention that talks between San Jose and the Ottawa Senators have cooled off.

You've got to wonder, though, if Heatley might be a little put off by the boos on Thursday night, which weren't just in any city but his hometown--where you might think he'd get a little reprieve. If he comes back to Ottawa this season, he'll take it every home game, and it'll probably follow him in every rink on the road, too. If he gets traded, his new team and their fans might be happy to have him, so that'd give him a break for half the season.

Or maybe he'll just continue to ignore what other people think and say about him.

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Comments

I don’t think Heatley cares much about the fans… that much is obvious. His only concern is to make himself look good as far as I can tell. I bet he could get booed in all 82 games this year and he’d act like never heard a thing every game.

by Mark Parisi on Aug 29, 2009 2:34 AM EDT reply actions

i could see him on Jerry Springer LOL

“hey, shut up. You don’t know me. I am so fine. Shut up. You don’t know me.” LOL

by aagoodfella on Aug 30, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

sometimes TOO MUCH self-confidence can be a bad thing

by aagoodfella on Aug 30, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I was there

…and have to admit feeling a little bad for the guy. Doesn’t Heatley hold the record for most Team Canada goals ever? In his hometown too. It was pretty relentless. I was 10 rows up and he got an earful from the sellout 18,000 spectators EVERY time he touched the puck. I was one of the people cheering loudly when he scored in the shootout. Not being a Flames fan, it was fun to cheer as loud as I could. And as a Hawks fan, I understand how the off-season b.s. sticks with a player like a recent encounter with a skunk. Maybe he’ll get the last laugh in Vancouver.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on Aug 31, 2009 9:30 PM EDT reply actions

He won't get sympathy in Ottawa

And it looks like you were one of very few people who had sympathy anywhere in Canada. He has the most goals ever for Canada in the World Championships, but that’s kind of bittersweet; it means he hasn’t spent much time going far in the playoffs. In his seven-year NHL career, he’s been to the playoffs three times (all with Ottawa), and been a part of five series wins.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 31, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Understood

and to be honest, I started out riding him a bit too. But it quickly became obvious he was under fire from everyone in attendance. I can’t blame those of you from Ottawa – I know I’d feel the very same. But at the same time, while you’re right I may have been one of the few sympathizers in the country, I can think of a few Canadian teams who could directly benefit from a 40 or 50 goal scorer on their team. I suspect they’d be singing a different tune. I hope for the Sen’s sake that this garbage goes away sooner than later.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on Aug 31, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope it goes away, too.

And I think the Senators are one of the teams that would benefit from a 50-goal scorer. But he has to want to be here, and he has to come through on that 50-goal pledge; he was scoring when the going was good, but you’ve got to be able to put up points when the team needs them.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Sep 1, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions