Gudas apologizes for saying homophobic slur vs. Canada — and more

Radko Gudas has apologized for saying what is considered a homophobic slur during the Canada-Czechia quarterfinal at the Olympics last week.

Gudas told Athletic reporter Eric Stephens he “didn’t mean anything by” the slur and that it came out of frustration in a story published Tuesday. During the broadcast of the game, Gudas can be heard yelling two words as he goes to the penalty box for roughing Canada forward Brandon Hagel in the second period.

“I’m a very passionate guy,” Gudas told Stephens. “I put my heart on a sleeve, and I take the game very seriously. I didn’t realize at that moment the full meaning of the word and I’m really sorry they had to be part of it. Learn from our mistakes.”

Gudas also told Stephens in a follow-up answer that “in the heat of the moment, the emotions got the best of me and I’m sorry for the way it looks in all of hockey. Nothing I can do about right now, but I feel sorry about that.”

Canada won the game, 4-3, to advance to the semifinals against Finland before losing in the gold-medal final to the Americans.

Gudas also was involved in the hit on Sidney Crosby that appears to have resulted in a leg injury that sidelined the Canadian superstar for the remainder of the Olympics as well as the next four weeks.

Although he was not penalized during the game for the comment or disciplined by the IIHF or IOC afterward, in the NHL, Ryan Getzlaf was fined $10,000 for saying a similar thing in a game in 2017.

In 2018, Chicago forward Andrew Shaw was suspended for one game and fined $5,000 for directing a homophobic slur toward an official during a playoff game.

Tampa Bay Lightning have received a major injury update on defenseman Victor Hedman ahead of their matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team observed the development from afar, awaiting the final decision on Hedman's playing status.

Lightning get major Victor Hedman injury update for playing status vs. Maple Leafs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Lightning could only watch from afar.

Their superstar defenseman, Victor Hedman, was in Milan playing in the Winter Olympics for Sweden. And in the quarterfinal round, Hedman never came off the bench for a single shift. Turns out, he had been injured in warmups.

That opened up all sorts of concern, but as it turns out, there was nothing to worry about.

Assistant coach Rob Zettler told reporters that Hedman is good to go for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the NHL returns from Olympic break.

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The Lightning captain had missed nearly two months earlier this season due to elbow surgery.

He played in Tampa Bay's last three games before the Olympics, then suited up in the three preliminary games for Sweden before that unexpected absence against Team USA.

Hedman has played in 21 games this season for Tampa Bay, and he has 13 points, all assists.

The Lightning got much more good injury news from Zettler in that media appearance. He added that Brayden Point, Charle-Eduouard D'Astous and Emil Martinsen Lilleberg are all ready to play against Toronto, as well.

Point had to miss the Olympics after being chosen for Team Canada due to a knee injury, but evidently he has recovered now.

Lilleberg and D'Astous were both on Injured Reserve heading into the Olympic break but apparently are also good to go.

The Lightning play Toronto on Wednesday and Carolina on Thursday, so it's good timing to return toward full strength.

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