Hockey’s Willie Mitchell Stands By Soccer Player’s Stance Over Fish

Hockey player Willie Mitchell, who we profiled in 2014 when he was a member of the Los Angeles Kings, has been an advocate for protecting wild salmon from fish farms in his native British Columbia.

Mitchell, now the captain for the NHL’s Florida Panthers,  offered his support to see  a B.C. soccer-playing teen who spoke out against her team being sponsored by a fish farming company.

Here’s CBC with more:

The captain of the Florida Panthers, Willie Mitchell, tweeted on Friday night he would sponsor 14-year-old Freyja Reed after she was told to stop protesting about the fish farming company who sponsors her soccer league.

Mitchell called Reed’s case “outrageous” and said the ability to “speak up for what we believe in” is reason why it’s a “privilege” to live in North America.

1. Willie Mitchell  @Willie_Mitch33 Oct 23

   The ability to speak up for what we believe in is why we are so privileged to live in N.A. Freyja Reed I will sponsor you! @cbcnewsbc
2. Willie Mitchell ?@Willie_Mitch33 Oct 23

   So outrageous! Youth being bullied about her opinion-one shared by legislators & business leaders. RT to support. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/teen-soccer-player-muzzled-1.3285181 …

The hockey player, originally from Vancouver Island, is known for his interests in wildlife conservation.

Anissa Reed, Freyja’s mother, said Mitchell has already taken the first step to follow through on his tweet — her daughter heard from him via a Facebook message on Saturday.

Kudos to Willie, who’s a super good guy and someone I really enjoyed interviewing, for standing by Freyja in a rather ridiculous moment of petty behavior by her soccer team.

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