Leah Hextall Talks About The Haters She's Dealt With As A Female Hockey Analyst
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S. HarperAugust 31, 2022 (4:07 PM)
It's sad we are in 2022 and some hockey fans still can't accept the fact women are becoming a bigger part in hockey.
Leah Hextall Cousin of former Philadelphia goaltender and General Manager Ron Hextall we was be hired as one of ESPN's regular NHL play-by-play voices for the Flyers for most of the 2021-22 season,
During that time Leah received alot of abuse and even death threats via social media.
During most of last season, Leah Hextall was perched between the two benches during several games weekly, and some disrespectful fans the majority of them were male would criticize her every move and comment.
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«which prompted her to deactivate a Facebook page, turn off her notifications on Twitter and tighten security controls on Instagram.»
Hextall reacted to the abuse she endured this past season as on-air talent to The Athletic's Richard Deitsch:
«Vile,» she said. «Sexist. Misogynistic. And threatening.»
Hextall had to deal with the brutal comments all season long.
«There just doesn't seem to be an end to it. That's where it becomes problematic: It's not just one game here and there it's every single time I am in the booth.»
She especially heard about the fans' complaints after a game broadcasting the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs in which Hextall stood in between benches as Pat Maroon and Wayne Simmonds were chirping back and forth:
«It keeps going. Simmonds, Maroon. Simmonds, Maroon. Here we go,» Hextall said, pointing to each side as they traded barbs.
In the intermission, she spoke with Simmonds during her segment and said: "He called you �soft' my question is: Are you?»
«You should ask him,» Simmonds said. «We've never dropped the gloves. He's never obliged me before. So I don't know. I don't think I'm the one that's soft.»
The interview went viral as fans called out Hextall for her stupid question.
Hextall had to deal with the brutal comments all season long.
«There just doesn't seem to be an end to it. That's where it becomes problematic: It's not just one game here and there it's every single time I am in the booth.»
She especially heard about the fans' complaints after a game broadcasting the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs in which Hextall stood in between benches as Pat Maroon and Wayne Simmonds were chirping back and forth:
«It keeps going. Simmonds, Maroon. Simmonds, Maroon. Here we go,» Hextall said, pointing to each side as they traded barbs.
In the intermission, she spoke with Simmonds during her segment and said: "He called you �soft' my question is: Are you?»
«You should ask him,» Simmonds said. «We've never dropped the gloves. He's never obliged me before. So I don't know. I don't think I'm the one that's soft.»
The interview went viral as fans called out Hextall for her stupid question.
The thing is Hextall ain't stupid. Leah knows the game and comes a true hockey family Leah's Grandfather, Bryan Hextall Sr., is a Hall of Famer and key player for the Rangers in their 1940 Stanley Cup conquest. Her uncle, Bryan Hextall Jr., played 10 years in the league in the 1960s and 1970s. Her cousin, Ron Hextall, well he needs no introduction, a top goalie in the NHL for 13 years with the Flyers, Nordiques and Islanders.
Unfortunately we don't know if some of the male hockey fans will ever truly comprehend that woman know just as much or in Leah's case more then male hockey fans it truly sad
Leah Hextall also revealed things got worse for her making her contemplate quiting because the hateful comments got worse and she even received death threats.
«I will then put a gun in your mouth and blow out your brains so no one has to hear you call a hockey game again.»
«It was that shocking, more than anything, that someone would have that much anger towards me because I was calling a hockey game,» she said in an interview. «A hockey game. I'm not saving lives here. I'm just calling a hockey game, and you were willing to threaten my physical and sexual safety?»
«It was that shocking, more than anything, that someone would have that much anger towards me because I was calling a hockey game,» she said in an interview. «A hockey game. I'm not saving lives here. I'm just calling a hockey game, and you were willing to threaten my physical and sexual safety?»
Hextall is hoping fans will to embrace change to the sport so more women can who also love our sport don't go through the stuff she has last season.
As a male hockey fan myself and a father of four daughters I hope my daughters can enjoy the sport and if they to choose to work in hockey I hope things change so no more females get treated like Leah Hextall.
Let's give her a chance to put up her best work in a safe environment.
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