so i just watched the video the leafs put out about violence against women and homophobia.
i watched it twice.
to say i am shell shocked is the most base description of my emotions right now.
i spent just about ten minutes crying and am still tearing up occasionally.
do you all know how many people follow the leafs? whether theyre on tumblr or not, whether its a casual following or an obsessive following, do you all know HOW MANY PEOPLE this video could reach?
that’s millions of people watching a video of two of their alternate captains, a star defenseman, and a man whose literal job it is to fight on ice, shouting down violence against women. pledging to empower the women in their lives. casually (it was only mentioned once, by morgan rielly) but firmly shutting down homophobia. promising to stand with us as allies.
hockey is a lot of things for a lot of people on this site. for me it’s always been a safe place, discourse and occasional toxicity aside.
nothing has ever made me feel more grateful, or more validated in my chosen safe space, than this video. and maybe thats dramatic. maybe thats stupid. but my team, and one of my role models, just showed that they are, without a doubt, on my side, and as much in my corner as i am in theirs.
and that? that means everything to me.
non-hockey followers, i just really need for you to understand what you’re seeing here. this is matt martin, who last year had more fights as a new york islander than the entire leafs hockey team combined.
the leafs brought him on to protect their rookies. one of their rookies is mitch marner. HE IS THE ONE WHO IS THE BIG SPOON.
[Matt Martin’s] role with the Maple Leafs this season is to be the brawn — create space, keep the opposition honest — playing alongside the likes of William Nylander or Mitch Marner.
His role is to be like their big brother, always on the lookout for their welfare.
“Theybrought me here for a reason,” Martin said of Leafs management. “I’ve played the game a certain way for seven years. I’m going to continue to play the game the way I did in New York: Be a physical presence, a rough style game. At the same time, there’s an opportunity to produce more offence.”
His knuckles might come in handy to help ensure that veterans on other teams don’t take advantage of Toronto’s younger, smaller players like William Nylander and Mitch Marner.
Steel Phoenix Studios 