IRVINE, Calif. – Radko Gudas ended up as the center of attention in an Olympic quarterfinal hockey game, for all the wrong reasons.
Gudas acknowledged on Tuesday that he used what is considered a homophobic slur during the Czech Republic’s game against Canada last week, and apologized during an interview with The Athletic. In that same game, Gudas also was involved in a play that ultimately ended Sidney Crosby’s tournament due to injury, making Gudas a target of voluminous and harsh criticism online.
The slur — Gudas yelled “f—ing c—sucker” at either a Canadian opponent or an on-ice official as he was heading to the penalty box during a stoppage in play — largely seemed to escape notice, even though it was audible on the CBC broadcast. Gudas was not disciplined, even though there is some related precedent. In 2017, Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks was fined $10,000 by the NHL for using similar language on ice during a playoff game.
“I’m a very passionate guy,” Gudas said. “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.”
Asked in a follow-up question if he understood why his language was considered offensive, Gudas said: “Hundred percent. I think as a sport we take pride in staying away from those things. 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.”
A clip of the CBC broadcast from the Canada-Czech Republic game on Feb. 18 was posted on X before it was amplified by Outsports and other online publications.
Gudas, who is in his second season as captain of the Anaheim Ducks and third season overall with the team, said he “didn’t mean anything by” the slur and that it was said out of frustration. Gudas had been given a roughing penalty against Canada’s Brandon Hagel in the second period and was being guided toward the penalty box when he yelled the insult.
Gudas said, “You never want to put heat on anyone, on the sport, on yourself with stuff like this. Definitely a learning experience for me.”
Another incident during that game put attention on Gudas. In the second period, he hit Crosby, Canada’s captain, near the boards at center ice. Crosby’s right leg appeared to buckle under him as he shielded himself from absorbing the full brunt of Gudas’ hard check, and Crosby tried to continue playing but ultimately left the game for good.
Canada went on to beat the Czechs and beat Finland in the semifinals but lost to the United States 2-1 in overtime in the gold-medal game. Crosby did not play in the final two games.
Gudas wasn’t penalized on the play and was remorseful in Milan when asked about Crosby’s injury after the game, but substantial online ire — via social media and YouTube comments — has been directed at Gudas in the aftermath.
Asked about the level of outrage he experienced, Gudas said, “I’m not a big social media guy, so I can’t really say I’m paying much attention to it.”
“Obviously, it’s tough to see,” Gudas said of Crosby’s injury. “You never want to see anybody get hurt. I understand their anger. I’m not out there to get anybody hurt. But it’s a tough, hard game out there and it’s been just unfortunate. Hopefully he can recover well. I don’t really know what else to say. It was a freak accident. You’re just trying to play as hard as possible and then see what happens.”
Ducks forward Ryan Strome watched and rooted for Canada, his native country, throughout the Olympics. Like fans across the nation, Strome was saddened to see Crosby unable to continue in the tournament. He also thought back to 2014, when John Tavares, then his teammate with the New York Islanders, tore an MCL while being hit in an Olympic game and missed the remainder of the NHL season.
The risk of injury is why NHL owners have long been leery of including their players in a best-on-best competition during the season. But Strome said he felt there was no ill intent.
“You’re not trying to hurt anybody,” he said. “I’ve seen the other side of it. That’s the one downfall of the Olympics, and unfortunately it happened to (Crosby) and Canada and the guy that was (the captain) on our team.”
Crosby’s status going forward with the Pittsburgh Penguins has yet to be announced. The Penguins resume play on Thursday and are in second place in the Metropolitan Division, but with only a five-point cushion for a playoff spot.
The reputations of Crosby and Gudas also might factor into how the play was viewed. Crosby is considered a great ambassador for the sport, a player who has won three Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins to go with two Olympic gold medals. Gudas has built a 14-year, 872-game NHL career on hard-nosed defense and being a player who is beloved as a teammate but also reviled because of hits and other actions that crossed the line and resulted in multiple suspensions.
Gudas’s last suspension came in 2019 while with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Strome said the anger directed at the defenseman has gone over the top in this instance.
“I think it’s unnecessary,” Strome said. “I think in the last like maybe couple of days, we’ve seen more than ever, like how toxic it is online. … I think everybody in the hockey world knows that he didn’t do anything wrong (on that play). He plays the game to win. That’s what everyone’s trying to do. And it’s unfortunate something happened.”
“You never want to see one of your best players to go down,” Gudas said. “I understand that. I would not want to see one of our players go down with injury. That thing happens hundred times, thousand times every season. Unfortunately, accidents happen out there. You never want see anybody get hurt, but it does happen.”