Jets fans shower Connor Hellebuyck with ‘coward’ chants as goalie returns to Winnipeg originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jets fans were already against goalie Connor Hellebuyck before Sunday’s announcement that he wouldn’t start in his first game back in Winnipeg, with the Devils citing an “organizational decision.”
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Tensions rose after the news, and Jets fans let their former star hear it before Tuesday’s game against the Devils.
Hellebuyck was showered with negative chants as he took the ice during pregame warmups, despite not playing.
Here’s a look at the scene out of Winnipeg during Hellebuyck’s return.
MORE:Connor Hellebuyck explains trade request
Jets fans shower Connor Hellebuyck with ‘coward’ chants
Jets fans loudly chanted “Helle sucks” during pregame warmups on Tuesday:
Fans also loudly chanted “coward” at Hellebuyck, undoubtedly a nod to the Devils’ “organizational decision” to sit him on Tuesday in addition to the goalie’s controversial trade request.
Hellebuyck didn’t start Tuesday night, but he did explain the reasoning behind the trade request that dominated the headlines as the season approached.
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The former Hart Trophy winner said it was a “complex” and “difficult” situation driven by “some moments and some things that happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line,” though he didn’t go deep into specifics.
“I needed to be a good husband and a good father and do what’s best for me and my family and my career,” Hellebuyck said.
Once Tuesday’s game passes, it will be back to business as usual for Hellebuyck in his new home of New Jersey.
MORE: Why Devils’ Connor Hellebuyck didn’t start return to Winnipeg
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