Apparently, some have been directing both racial messages and comments to Oilers defenceman Ethan Bear. The 23-year-old's girlfriend posted to her Facebook that he has received numerous racist messages since last night's loss.

"Ethan has received numerous racist messages and comments,» the statement read. «To hide behind a screen is cowardly. But to use stereotypes against him as an indigenous person is dehumanizing and awful!"

"We will not be silenced. We will not except this behavior. It is 2021. We are all equal and this needs to stop. Ethan has broken countless barriers as an indigenous man to make it to the NHL. He is human. We understand there is criticism but there is no room for racism."

The 2020-21 season marked Bears second as an NHLer, both of which have come with the Oilers. After a fantastic rookie season, he struggled in his second campaign including last nights game where he was benched for the majority of the three overtime periods. Nonetheless, as the statement says, criticism is one thing, but throwing racial slurs at him is simply unacceptable. We as a society need to be much, much better than this.