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The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that a minority owner of Florida Panthers has been suspended because of his social media activity.
Doug Cifu entered a spat with a Toronto Maple Leafs fan that turned into a discussion about the Israel-Palestine conflict and cifu who mentioned Canada as the “51st State.”
Florida and Toronto are currently over in the second round of the Stanley Cup final game.
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View of a Florida Panthers logo on a jersey carried by a member of the team at the Bell Center. (David Kirouac-Preferred Pictures)
The series has been pretty Chippy, who started with a loud hit from Floridas Sam Bennett on Leaf’s goalkeeper Anthony Stolarz – later in the game Stolarz got sick on the bench and has not played since.
A fan named “Dr. Grizzo” that was posted on X, “Hello, what’s worse, using headshots to win a series or use hunger as a weapon to win a war?”
CIFU replied, “Being a whiny dope antisemit is clearly worse. Losing.”
Florida Panthers defends Dmitry Kulikov (7) and Toronto Maple Leaf’s center Bobby McMann (74) fights in the third period in match four in the second round of 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the AMERANT BANK Arena. (Obligatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-IMAGN images)
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“Not approval of using hunger as a weapon makes me a bigot?” The fan replied and added a derogatory comment about Cifus Conservative political views.
Cifu wrote back, “Eat S — 51st State Anti-Semite Loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] Last Hama’s steering wheel is removed. “
CIFU then made his account privately and disabled his account.
“Two days ago, I published regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media. My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize for all those affected by my comments. I am obliged to work with the NHL to change my actions.”
Florida Panthers Center Sam Reinhart (13) and Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) Skate in the second period in the game four of the second round of 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Amerant Bank Arena. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Preferred Pictures)
The series is tied to two matches per year. Piece with Game 5 in Toronto Wednesday night.
