Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar felt compelled to speak to his entire team following a costly ejection during a heated rivalry game. The incident occurred on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place, leaving the Flames shorthanded for a significant portion of the contest.
A Costly Loss of Composure
While head coach Ryan Huska did not feel the need to confront Weegar after the game, the veteran blueliner took it upon himself to address his teammates in the locker room. Weegar was assessed a game misconduct by referee Cody Beach during the second period of the Flames' 3-1 loss. The sequence began with a clear-cut unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for swiping away the stick of Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse after a whistle.
"You're embarrassed afterwards, you're letting your teammates down, you're leaving a big game," Weegar explained on Saturday morning before the rematch with the Oilers. "You kind of just feel like you're throwing your teammates under the bus."
Accountability in the Locker Room
Weegar, who is known for his passion but not typically for being a hot-head, expressed deep regret for his actions. His frustration boiled over as he argued the initial penalty call all the way to the box, where he then repeatedly hit his stick against the glass. This display prompted Beach to eject him from the game.
"I feel like I'm a key guy on the team and when you get thrown out for stuff like that it doesn't feel good and I just wanted to address it to the teammates," Weegar said. He emphasized the tight-knit nature of the group and his dislike for letting them down. The ejection forced the Flames to play with only five defencemen for nearly 35 minutes, a severe disadvantage against an Oilers lineup featuring stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The Lesson Learned
In his reflection, Weegar pinpointed the core mistake. "I honestly should have just eaten the two minutes and shut my mouth and been quiet," he admitted. "I think that's probably the most important thing to take away from it."
He acknowledged that after saying his piece to the official, his actions in the penalty box crossed a line. "I banged my stick on the boards and, obviously, they don't like that stuff. I guess if there's anything to take from it, it's be quiet and serve your two minutes."
By taking full accountability and apologizing directly to his teammates, Weegar demonstrated the leadership expected from a core player. His public and private contrition closes the chapter on an incident he is eager to move past as the Flames continue their season.
