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Jessica Pegula has defended Connor Bedard, the star of Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL, after catching flak for brushing aside an overzealous fan. With his profile in the NHL rising rapidly in his breakout season, the 20-year-old's recent interaction with a fan went viral on social media.
Bedard was recently out and about when a group of men approached with magazines for him to sign. One fan in particular was rather insistent, and while Bedard initially ignored them, he eventually relented and signed a couple of magazines. The entire episode was filmed, and reaction to the same wasn't completely positive.
Pegula has defended Bedard on the latest episode of her podcast, The Players Box Podcast. Drawing from her own experiences, she stated some of these fans go on to sell the autographed items, and that's why they won't back off.
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"Connor Bedard, he's a forward for the Blackhawks. He's only like 20 years old, total superstar. For those of you that don't follow hockey, Dez probably knows who he is. Um, but there was a video of him basically denying someone um, an autograph, but the guy was trying, he was older and he was obviously like selling these autographs. And I just thought it was really relatable because we definitely had a lot of those people," Pegula said.
Pegula also criticized how people don't respect personal space. She felt Bedard was being harassed, and such experiences make players think twice about mingling with genuine fans.
"I think when the boundaries thing gets crossed, like in his instance, like he's just trying to walk to dinner. Who knows? Maybe he just signed like 20 of them for this guy and he didn't feel like signing another one cuz this guy's harassing him. I feel like it's a boundaries thing for me. Like when it's they forget that you're human, following you to the elevator into your hotel room. It's totally crossing a line and then when that happens, it kind of ruins your want to do it again," Pegula added.
Pegula is quite aware of the happenings in the world of NHL. Aside from having a keen interest in the sport, her family also owns a team in the league, thus making her interest in hockey both personal and professional.
Jessica Pegula's father owns the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL
Jessica Pegula's father, billionaire businessman Terry Pegula, is the owner of the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL. She frequently attends their matches, and when unable to do so because of her own hectic schedule, makes sure to stay updated on the scores at all costs.
Pegula's father bought the Sabres in 2011 from businessman Tom Golisano. The team is still on the hunt for some trophies, with their title drought being one of the longest in the history of the NHL.
Pegula doesn't let that dampen her spirits, and is always rooting for her team to do well. Hockey isn't the only sport she keeps up with. Her parents also own the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, one of their most noteworthy investments in the world of sports.
