EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Hockey coach whose pre-game speech went viral SLAMS colleges on flag, pledge
Campus Reform spoke with the coach, whose name is John Krupinsky, regarding recent incidents of colleges not adhering to tradition when it comes to the flag, the pledge, or the national anthem.
A Connecticut hockey coach's speech to his team about standing during the national anthem went viral recently.
Last week, a hockey coach in Connecticut went viral after a video of one of his pre-game speeches was shared online.
Coach John Krupinsky of the Danbury Hat Tricks is seen on camera telling his players in the locker room that any protest during the National Anthem would not be tolerated.
“We are not women’s soccer. We are not the NFL. If there is anyone here who is going to be disrespectful to either the American or Canadian National Anthem, grab your gear and get the f*** out now because you will never see the ice in this arena,” Krupinsky said.
The video, which garnered millions of views across social media, sparked a great deal of support, along with some criticism.
Campus Reform spoke with Coach Krupinsky to hear what motivated him and get his take on the growing disrespect towards the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance on college campuses.
Citing the recent Betsy Ross flag controversy as well as the U.S. women’s team protest, Krupinsky said “America kind of got kicked in the gut in a one week period. We were told we can’t fly a Betsy Ross flag, and I still have yet to hear an explanation as to why… then came our U.S. [Women’s] Team. It was all just kind of a catalyst that set me off.”
Krupinsky, who is also an officer with the Danbury Police Department, says he never thought the video would go viral in the first place.
“I thought this video would be shared by like twelve people on my hockey team,” he said.
[RELATED: Betsy Ross flag criticism is nothing compared with college’s treatment of Old Glory]
When asked what he thought of the growing anti-American sentiment on college campuses, Krupinsky had plenty to say.
“This is crazy. You’re talking about college campuses! I get to spend a lot of time in our younger schools with 4th and 5th graders… tell me how a fourth grader gets it that he’s supposed to stand at attention, put his hand over his heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance… and stand up for the National Anthem, but we lose it somewhere when we get to college? I don’t understand that.”
Krupinsky closed, saying “I’ve never said my players aren’t allowed to protest. They would be welcome to. I would support them as their coach. That is my job to support my players. But it wouldn’t be supported for the two to four minutes during the National Anthem.”
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Cabot_Phillips
