Two of the characters involved in the leaked group chat conversation involving roughly 10 Manitoba-born hockey players, have had their current deals terminated. Brothers Brendan (25, Washington Capitals) and Jeremey (23, University of Manitoba Bisons) Leipsic have been reprimanded to the extent of contract termination.
A number of the others involved in the conversation have had ‘internal discipline’ from their respective hockey programs, while others have been fired from their respective jobs. Even a number of local restaurants have barred members of this group chat from entrance to their establishments.
Along with Brendan and Jeremey Leipsic, Jack Rodewald (Florida Panthers), Jackson Keane (University of North Dakota), Warren Callis (University of Manitoba), Jordyn Boyd (University of Manitoba), Spencer Tremblay (Waywayseecappo Wolverines), Brandon Lauder (Portage Terriers), Tyler Morwick (Charleswood Hawks), and Travis Brown (Moose Jaw Warriors) were participants in the conversation – each to different extents.
The elder Leipsic was the most established of the group, having spent the past six seasons between the NHL and AHL. After beginning his career with Toronto, Brendan Leipsic moved to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, before finding himself bounce between the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals over the past two seasons.
In 187 career NHL games, Leipsic has 16 goals, 59 points and 53 penalty minutes. He had three goals, 11 points and 13 penalty minutes through 61 games with Washington in 2019-20. The former Winnipeg Monarchs AAA star was currently 85 percent through his one-year, $700K deal with the Capitals which he signed this past July. He has an estimated career earnings just north of $2.5 million.
“Yesterday my friend’s Instagram account was hacked and an individual circulated images that are representative of private conversations I was a part of,” Leipsic posted on his Twitter page. “I fully recognize how inappropriate and offensive these comments are and sincerely apologize to everyone for my actions. I am committed to learning from this and becoming a better person by taking time to determine how to move forward in an accountable, meaningful way. I am truly sorry.”
The Washington Capitals issued the following statement late Wednesday evening: “We are aware of the unacceptable and offensive comments made by Brendan Leipsic in a private conversation on social media. We will handle this matter internally.” On Friday, they dropped the axe, releasing Leipsic to Waivers for the purpose of contract termination.
Early Thursday afternoon, University of Manitoba Athletic Director Gene Miller issued a statement of his own, indicating Jeremey Leipsic’s release from the Bisons hockey program.
“Respect and integrity are core values of our Bison Sports community and as a result of this situation, we have taken the action to release the current student-athlete from the program,” the statement read. “We condemn any such remarks and attitudes as they are offensive, reprehensible and have absolutely no place in sport or in our programs.”
Jeremey Leipsic was in his second season with the Bisons, prior to the shutdown of U-Sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a six-goal, 12-point campaign in 2018-19, the small forward picked up six goals and 15 points in 28 games for Manitoba this past year. Leipsic served a prominent role for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Portage Terriers, who won their second and third of three-straight league championships in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
.png)