Plenty of people are horrified by the mass shooting in Orlando, but those events hit especially close to home for Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Garret Sparks.
As Sparks has been pursuing his career going up and down the Maple Leafs’ depth chart, he’s spent parts of multiple seasons with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. He’s played chunks of seasons with them since 2013-14.
Sparks is also an American-born player, hailing from Illinois.
With all of that in mind, it’s no surprise how personally Sparks took the news.
My heart breaks for the city of Orlando, the victims & their loved ones, who are forever impacted by this cowardly act of domestic terrorism
— Garret Sparks (@GSparks40) June 12, 2016
He went further, too, speaking his mind about the issue in a follow-up tweet:
Orlando was my home. It is a peaceful, beautiful & tolerant city. There is no excuse for this to happen. America has a gun problem #WakeUp
— Garret Sparks (@GSparks40) June 12, 2016
The shooting was less than two miles from home of Leafs ECHL affiliate. See @GSparks40 timeline. https://t.co/fbAuWRBTT6
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) June 12, 2016
Again, Sparks wasn’t alone in sharing his thoughts, with former NHL defenseman Ryan Whitney also being very candid.
What a sad day. Thank god for those police who saved the hostages and killed the coward responsible for such terror.
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) June 12, 2016
Plenty of other teams and players weighed in, albeit without the controversy, including the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning:
Our thoughts and prayers this morning are with the city of Orlando and all those affected by this tragedy.
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 12, 2016
We stand with you, Orlando.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 12, 2016
Tyler Johnson also shared his condolences.
Just speechless.... Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected in Orlando.
— Tyler Johnson (@tjohnny09) June 12, 2016
For more on that situation, follow NBC News’ coverage. (Puck Daddy also addressed Sparks’ comments.)