Team USA Is Mad About Phil Kessel's Tweet

Team USA flamed out in two games at the World Cup of Hockey, but one American hockey player did win last night: Phil Kessel. The Stanley Cup Champion, who was left off the roster and had hand surgery in July, displayed his pettiness (in a good way) after John Tortorella’s squad lost to Canada, 4-2.

Ottawa Senators winger Bobby Ryan and Paralympic sledge-hockey player Josh Pauls also took shots. (Pauls deleted his tweet):

Team USA’s David Backes did not find these tweets funny, and threatened to remember the tweets in the future. From Puck Daddy:

“It’s disappointing. It’s almost to say that we were coasting or don’t care, weren’t representing our countries as well as we could have and for other guys that have worn the jersey, it’s disappointing,” Team USA forward David Backes said. “I understand there’s hard feelings if you weren’t picked for the team or if whatever, but the comments are, I think – as a team guy and as a guy that stands by my teammates, win lose or draw, it’s a little distasteful and aggravating but everyone’s got a Twitter account and you can have freedom of speech to say whatever you want and so be it. But those comments don’t get lost in the fray and those comments are there and have been read and I think will be remembered when whatever happens going forward happens going forward.”

Zach Parise and Derek Stepan also expressed disappointment with Kessel’s tweet, with Stepan saying, “I certainly hope it wasn’t out of disrespect.”

If Team USA really respected their country, they would have won instead of scoring only two goals in two games. Just my take.