NHL suspends Panthers’ minority owner for calling Canada ‘51st state’

The NHL has indefinitely suspended Florida Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu after he referred to Canada as the “51st state” on social media.

The posts were made on Cifu’s X account shortly after the Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday to tie their second-round playoff series 2-2.

Cifu responded to criticism from a Toronto supporter who compared the physical series to the Israel-Hamas war. 

“Eat s—- 51st state anti semite loser,” Cifu wrote amid the back-and-forth with the fan. “Israel now and forever. Until [every] last Hamas rat is eliminated.”

Cifu, who is the Panthers’ vice chairman, made his account private before deactivating it.

“The NHL has concluded that Mr. Cifu’s X posts were unacceptable and inappropriate,” the league said in a statement. “As a result, Mr. Cifu has been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the Club and the NHL.”

The league said Cifu would have an in-person meeting with Commissioner Gary Bettman at some point.

Cifu co-founded the Virtu financial technology firm with Panthers owner Vincent Viola in 2008 before investing in the NHL franchise. 

“My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family,” Cifu said in a statement to Florida Hockey Now. “I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.”

The Panthers return to the ice Wednesday for Game 5 in Toronto.