Jon Cooper officially apologizes for insensitive comments

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Tom Banks
May 1, 2024 (4:48 PM)

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After their game five and series loss, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper had some insensitive comments, and now he has officially apologized.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were disappointed to go out in a gentleman's sweep against their state rival Florida Panthers, with Head Coach Jon Cooper being incredibly disappointed. He showed that frustration in a press conference after game five, where he had this to say;

"We might has well put skirts on them then... I think we're letting the goalies off the hook."

Understandably so, there was plenty of backlash on social media, especially given the efforts of hockey to take a step forward in support of women's hockey and the PWHL in recent years. Now, Cooper has walked back his comments, apologizing for the insensitive remarks he made out of frustration.

Jon Cooper opened his press conference by apologizing for his goalies wearing skirts comments. «Quite frankly, it was wrong.» Said it has pained him more than the series loss. Especially with daughters at home. Wishes he could go back in time and take it back.

While it's easy to vilify Cooper for his comments, he owned up to them on Wednesday and expressed his regret in making them, so now he will look to move forward into a key Lightning off-season and put this behind him.