The NHL has been accused of trying to pressure a player unexpectedly voted into its All-Star game into withdrawing from the match.
John Scott, a career journeyman enforcer surprisingly voted into ice hockey's showcase event by fans, said he got a call from someone at the NHL who tried to talk him out of playing this Sunday.
According to Scott, a league official asked him: "Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?"
Scott said that moment strengthened his resolve to play with some of the best ice hockey players in the world.
"Because, while I may not deserve to be an NHL All-Star, I know I deserve to be the judge of what my kids will - and won't - be proud of me for," said the 33-year-old Scott, who has two daughters.
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The sparingly used player has scored just five goals since his NHL debut in 2009. He played for the Arizona Coyotes when he was named an All-Star, but was later traded to Montreal.
At first, Scott said he accepted the league's position that he didn't belong in the All-Star game.
"They didn't mince words - This is not a game for you, John - but I understood all the same," Scott wrote.
"Honestly, on some level, I agreed. In the beginning, at least, I just wanted the entire thing to go away."
"So when they asked me to make a statement - nudging the fan vote in another direction and denouncing the John Scott 'movement' - I did it without hesitation," he added.
"I told the fans, 'Listen. I don't deserve this. Vote for my teammates.' And I was telling the truth."
But Scott said he later changed his mind after feeling used by the NHL.
"While I don't deserve to be an All-Star, I also don't think I deserve to be treated like I've been by the league throughout this saga. I'm an NHL player - and, whatever my set of skills may be, that I'm an NHL player is no accident."
