Washington Capitals forward Brett Connolly said Wednesday he won’t make the trip to the White House if and when the Stanley Cup champions are invited.
“Personally, I don’t think I’m going to go,” Connolly told reporters. “It has nothing to do with politics. For me, I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”
Brett Connolly says he won’t be part of the Capitals’ White House visit.
— John Matisz (@MatiszJohn) August 29, 2018
Connolly made the remarks at BioSteel Camp in Toronto, a weeklong training program for NHL players from all teams before teams begin their own training camps.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Connolly continued. “I think there’ll be a few guys not going, too. Like I said, it has nothing to do with politics, it’s about what’s right and wrong, and we’ll leave it at that.”
Connolly is the second known Capitals player to say they would not visit the White House. Devante Smith-Pelly said a few days before the Capitals won the Cup that if they were to win, he had his “mind made up” about not going, citing what he called racist and sexist rhetoric from Trump.
Connolly is a third-line forward who scored six goals for the Capitals in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including two in the Stanley Cup Finals.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.