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The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that a minority owner of the Florida Panthers has been suspended due to his social media activity.
Doug Cifu got into a spat with a Toronto Maple Leafs fan that turned into a discussion about the Israel-Palestine conflict and Cifu mentioning Canada as the “51st state.”
Florida and Toronto are currently facing off in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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View of a Florida Panthers logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
The series has been rather chippy, which began with a high hit from Florida’s Sam Bennett on Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz – later in the game, Stolarz got sick on the bench and has not played since.
A fan, with the name “Dr. Grizzo,” posted on X, “Hey, what’s worse, using headshots to win a series or using starvation as a weapon to win a war?”
Cifu responded, “Actually being a whiny dope anti-semite is clearly worse. Loser.”
Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Bobby McMann (74) fight during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
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“Not approving of using starvation as a weapon makes me a bigot?” the fan replied, adding a derogatory comment about Cifu’s conservative political views.
Cifu wrote back, “Eat s— 51st state anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] last Hamas rat is eliminated.”
Cifu then made his account private and deactivated his account.
“Two days ago, I posted 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 to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.”
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skate during the second period in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
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The series is tied at two games apiece with Game 5 in Toronto on Wednesday night.
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