No more Fortnite, video games for Canucks
Patrik Laine is known for having a killer shot both on the ice and in the hit video game “Fortnite.” Turns out, the Winnipeg Jets sniper can be just as deadly with his words.
A day after Vancouver forward Bo Horvat said the Canucks have instituted a “Fortnite” ban for road games this season, there was talk across NHL arenas on whether or not it was fair to single out the popular online battle royale as a focusdestroying distraction.
While some players debated the game’s relative merits, Laine took an opportunity to land a critical hit on a Western Conference rival.
“I think they just needed something to blame after last year,” Laine said in an obvious shot at the Canucks’ dismal 31-40-11 record from the 2017-18 season. “And we kind of made a deal if we’re playing like that, we can give up our PlayStations so we’re not going to take them on the road. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Canucks forward Jake Virtanen took exception those comments. When asked about Laine’s take at Vancouver’s morning skate on Wednesday, Virtanen said, “Whatever. I don’t really care what he says.”
Virtanen added that “Fortnite” hasn’t been an issue for the Canucks.
“I just think that where we want to go with our team, anything we can do to get better, that’s a stepping stone. You can only go up from last year,” he said. “We want to be focused all the time when we come to the rink, but have fun at the same time. But it’s all business here.” All business was the approach Horvat took when he addressed the “Fortnite” fallout.
“It was just an idea for our group to be a tight-knit group,” he said. “We want to change the culture, we want to come together and act as a team. And that’s all I’m going to say about it.”
Laine is a noted “Fortnite” enthusiast who can play for hours at a time. And it hasn’t hurt his performance on the ice — he had 44 goals last season in his sophomore campaign.
There is concern in hockey, particularly at the junior level, that players may suffer on the ice from marathon gaming sessions.