BREAKING NEWS: Female Official Suspended for Kneeling During National Anthem at CHL 16U Nationals
Location (TBD) — A female official representing the Montreal Canadiens organization has been suspended after kneeling during the national anthem at the CHL 16U Nationals Tournament earlier this week.
The incident occurred moments before puck drop, as teams and officials stood at center ice for the playing of the anthem. The official, whose name has not yet been publicly released, chose to kneel during the performance — a gesture widely recognized as a protest against social injustice and inequality.
Tournament officials responded swiftly, issuing a statement confirming her immediate suspension pending further review. “While we support freedom of expression, the CHL expects all participants to uphold the standards and protocols of our national events,” the league’s brief statement read.
The Canadiens organization has yet to comment on the incident or the official’s status within the club’s development programs. However, the act has sparked a heated debate across social media, with some praising her courage and others calling for stricter enforcement of tournament conduct.
As the story develops, questions remain about the future implications for officials at CHL-sanctioned events and the evolving conversation around protests in sport.
