Several sports leagues and teams around the world reacted to the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, and in England the news prompted competitions to be postponed and canceled.
The National Hockey League (NHL) was among the first to offer condolences to the royal family on social media: “The National Hockey League mourns the death and celebrates the remarkable life of Queen Elizabeth II. She held a special place in the hearts of Canadians and was associated with our sport in unforgettable ways during her 70-year reign.”
In addition to this brief message, the NHL released a video showing the Queen attending the ceremonial duel of a preseason game between the San Jose Sharks and the Canucks in Vancouver in 2002. You can see Her Majesty exchange a few words with local team captain Markus Naslund, surrounded by Mike Ricci, Wayne Gretzky and Ed Jovanovski, and Cassie Campbell in the Team Canada uniform.
Montreal businessman Lawrence Stroll, father of Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll and president of the Aston Martin team, made an inspired statement on the British manufacturer’s networks.
“On behalf of the entire Aston Martin family, I would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen. We will remember the light she shed on the world; the people she brought together; all the lives she touched We will remember his sense of duty – an unwavering devotion to Britain and the Commonwealth. His life was lived beyond self.
“We are saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We join in the grief of all people who will have shaped her during her reign,” said CF Montreal.
wave of locks
In the UK, several sporting events have been canceled or postponed out of respect for Queen Elizabeth II.
British horse racing, one of the monarch’s passions, was suspended after her death. The Scottish Rugby Championship, PGA of Europe and England and Wales Cricket Board also neutralized their competitions on Thursday and Friday. In cycling, the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain will not be contested on Friday.
The English Premier League is yet to state its intentions for the weekend, but postponements are likely. The country’s teams involved in the Europa League, a continental championship, were still playing their games on Thursday. Minutes of silence were observed and athletes wore black armbands.
Avid beer trailblazer. Friendly student. Tv geek. Coffee junkie. Total writer. Hipster-friendly internet practitioner. Pop culture fanatic.