Porter Martone: a deplorable unsportsmanlike gesture for a captain

Mathis Therrien
Porter Martone: a deplorable unsportsmanlike gesture for a captain
Credit: Twitter screenshot

Canada played its first official game at the World Junior Championship last night, taking on its nemesis of the last two years, the Czech Republic.

A strong game was expected, and that's exactly what we got, as Team Canada Junior came away with a hard-fought 7-5 victory.

Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage shone in this match, with a goal and two assists.

Canada got its tournament off to a good start with a win—its first in regulation time against the Czechs since August 19, 2022—but despite this, there is little reason to be confident after this first game.

Indeed, ÉCJ struggled throughout the game, both defensively and physically, and above all, the team's attitude in general was just not right.

Captain Porter Martone's late gesture after his goal in an empty net is a perfect example.

As can be seen on the footage, after scoring the insurance goal, Martone walks past the Czech players' bench, and pats Czech forward Adam Novotny on the buttocks.

Martone received a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

It's an absolutely deplorable unsportsmanlike gesture that has no place whatsoever, no matter who the player is.

But for it to come from the CAPTAIN of ÉCJ is even worse, and even more worrying for the team's overall attitude.

It's fine to be confident, but there's no reason to be cocky like that after just one game, especially after a very unconvincing win.

Frankly, it reflects very poorly on the 2026 Canadian team, and is anything but encouraging for the future.

Martone doesn't deserve to be captain with a gesture like that, and I seriously hope that Dale Hunter will talk to him in the helmet and call his whole team to order.

The Philadelphia Flyers' top prospect (obviously) had better have a better attitude for the rest of the tournament, otherwise it looks very bad for the next few games.


Overtime

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