OHL fines – The OHL has fined the Barrie Colts $15,000 after coach Dylan Smoskowitz and defender Kashawn Aitcheson shut down a post-game media availability following a Game 7 win.
A strange post-game media moment has turned into a real consequence for the Barrie Colts.
The Ontario Hockey League has fined the Colts $15,000 after head coach Dylan Smoskowitz and star defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson replied to every question following Monday’s Game 7 win with the line “no one cares, work harder.” Misryoum reports the league branded the comments as highly unprofessional.
OHL said the conduct was detrimental to the league and a disservice to media members who cover the competition. Misryoum understands the pair received six questions in total before the moderator ended the session.
What makes this sting larger is how close the Colts are to the next major step in their season. They are now four wins away from reaching the Memorial Cup.
The Colts secured their championship push with a 5-0 victory over the Brantford Bulldogs, sending them forward to the OHL finals. In Misryoum’s coverage, Barrie is set to face the Kitchener Rangers as it aims to keep building momentum.
Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding Monday’s availability also reportedly involved frustrations about who was permitted to join the post-game media.. Smoskowitz and Aitcheson repeatedly returned to the same response even when asked about the team’s emotion and mindset. including a question comparing how the organization felt after earlier disappointment in the series.
Still, the bigger takeaway from the OHL’s decision is about standards: leagues rely on consistent, respectful access for the press, especially during high-stakes playoff weeks.
The Colts will now need to refocus quickly, balancing their on-ice goals with the off-ice lesson the fine delivers. For Barrie, the next media interactions may matter as much as the next shift.