Facebook is now off limits if you're a Saskatoon Blade. The new rule for players follows controversy on the social networking site.
The Saskatoon Blades say they want to set the record straight after one of their players was targeted online. The incident - which is now under investigation by Saskatoon police - involves Facebook, controversial comments and Blades' star, Brayden Schenn.
The 19-year-old was caught up in a nasty rumor mill regarding derogatory remarks about First Nations people.
Lorne Molleken, Blades head coach and general manager, says the comments were made through a status update on a fake Facebook account and Schenn has no connection to them. "It's a situation where it's been very unfair for a young man."
The Blades held a media conference after a number of calls from concerned fans and season ticket holders. The organization says there were at least nine Facebook pages related to Brayden Schenn - some were fan pages, others were fake accounts.
Albert Jame, of Zu Communications, says impersonators are not a new problem, it's simply the reality of the internet.
"With the expectation of Facebook, people know as soon as people say that that's not my account, that's ridiculous, I would never say that - they usually move on. I anticipate this is a group of people who wanted to throw the focus away from the game."
The incident has prompted the club to make a new policy. Blades players are no longer allowed to have a personal Facebook profile.
Molleken says while it's been hurtful, the team is not going to allow the situation to take their focus off the ice.
