Photo credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
A controversial hit during the women’s hockey gold medal game between Canada and the USA has sparked discussion.
Controversy late in the third period between Canada in the United States as the rivalry match came to a standstill following an injury incident.
Canadian defenseman Erin Ambrose was knocked into the boards by American forward Britta Curl-Salemme, struggling to get up, but managed to return to the game.
After a review of the play, the initial five minute penalty to Curl-Salemme was downgraded to a two minute minor, which was successfully killed off.
Canada ultimately lost in overtime for the gold medal, losing 2-1 after a goal from Megan Keller secured the comeback for the Americans, down 1-0 after a shorthanded goal from Kristan O’Neill, only for Hillary Knight to tie things up for team USA.
Criticism over USA hit a secondary talking point in Canadian loss
Some were not happy to see Britta Curl-Salemme seemingly get away with a potential injury to Erin Ambrose, and that the penalty was downgraded.
Curl-Salemme, who plays in the PWHL for the Minnesota Frost, has already faced condemnation in women’s hockey social media circles over her overly aggressive play style, as well as from the league’s large LGBT+ fanbase over her support to anti-transgender views.
Curl-Salemme faced heavy social media criticism from women’s hockey fans who have largely provided past condemnation of the American.
Many noted a lack of surprise that it was Curl-Salemme on the giving end of a physical play that was viewed as worthy of being penalized.
Ambrose was able to continue in the game, and as the play did not show a clear intent of means to harm, it made the factors unsurprising for the penalty to be lessened, although not to much popularity.
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