Lightning coach Jon Cooper apologizes: Sexist comment 'pained me more than series loss'

Jon Cooper apologized on Wednesday for comment he made about NHL goalies wearing skirts following his Tampa Bay Lightnings' series loss to the Florida Panthers.

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"I sincerely apologize to all I offended," Coopers said. "It's pained me more than the actual series loss itself."

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The Lightning had two goals called back for goalie interference in Monday's 6-1 Game 5 defeat at the hands of the state rival Panthers. Cooper said post-game that if goaltenders are going to get that much protection from referees, "we might as well put skirts on them."

The reaction to his comments came quickly, with many calling them misogynistic and out-of-touch.

"I made an inappriopriate analogy about goalies in skirts," Cooper said. "And It's one of those moments where if you could just reach back and grab the words back I would have. As a father of two and especially as a massive supporter of women's hockey, and I have girls who play sports."

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Respect that Jon Cooper opened by addressing this. He's always been great to deal with, so his comment surprised me. Addressing it head on, with sincerity, is the right approach.

pic.twitter.com/yY9aZ08fBx

— Rachel Doerrie (@racheldoerrie) May 1, 2024

Toronto PWHL head coach Troy Ryan came to Cooper's defence on Tuesday.

"Jon Cooper, probably as much as anybody, supports women's hockey. I can tell you that without a doubt," Ryan is quoted as saying by the Toronto Sun's Mike Ganter. "Jon Cooper has been a big part of helping us grow our culture and environment with the national team. He always takes time, actually follows the game and usually sends messages … with comments."

Women's hockey and women's sports in general is enjoying a massive surge in popularity as evidenced by attendance numbers for the PWHL's inaugural season and the pop culture phenonemon of NCAA star basketball player Caitlin Clark.

Cooper sounded very contrite, and the remarks opened his season-ending press conference on Wendesday.

"Quite frankly, it was wrong and I had to go and explain myself to my girls," he said.

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