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Former NHLer Theo Fleury criticized for vaccine passport comments

Theo Fleury is under fire for his recent comments about vaccine passports. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Theo Fleury is under fire for his recent comments about vaccine passports. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Former NHLer Theo Fleury has been publicly criticized for some recent tweets in which he spread misinformation and dangerous conspiracy theories.

In the now-deleted posts, Fleury wrote that vaccine passports are going to be used by pedophiles to track children.

Brandon University, where he received an honourary doctorate in 2015 for “his significant contributions” to combating child abuse, released a statement on Tuesday, declaring that the 53-year-old’s comments are a “stain on his legacy.”

"We call on Fleury to recognize that he is now a person in a position of authority and to recognize that his actions as an authority put him in a place where he can cause harm to others," the university wrote. "We hope he takes advantage of the resources at his disposal and seeks greater understanding of the science behind the pandemic and the essential public health role of vaccines."

Along with former NHLers Brandon Prust and Dustin Penner, Fleury is part of a loud group of hockey players that have been repeatedly and aggressively spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories throughout the pandemic.

In his 2009 memoir titled “Playing With Fire,” Fleury detailed his emotional and sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of minor-league hockey coach Graham James. The book led to the eventual arrest of James and in 2011, he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Fleury appeared in 1,084 games throughout his 15-year NHL career, scoring 455 goals and 1,088 points.

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