Wayne Simmonds Video: Fan Throws Banana at Sep. 22, 2011 NHL Game

Some Idiot Fan Threw a Banana at Wayne Simmonds During a September 22, 2011 NHL Pre-Season Game. Here is Video of the Wayne Simmonds Banana Incident

An ugly incident marred a NHL pre-season game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, September 22, 2011. A fan hurled a banana at Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds, who is African-Canadian.

The incident occurred as Wayne Simmonds was taking part in a shootout. As Simmonds skated toward Detroit goalkeeper Jordan Pearce, a banana thrown by some idiot in the stands fell into Simmonds' path. The forward managed to score the goal despite the distraction.

Deadspin has video of the Wayne Simmonds banana incident. They describe the perpetrator as a "bottom-of-the-barrel jitbag." Hard to disagree.

Simmonds wasn't sure what to make of the banana thrown at him.

After the game, he told reporters; "“I’ve never had a banana thrown at me before... I guess it’s something I obviously have to deal with being a black player playing a predominantly white sport. I’ve grown a lot playing in this league and throughout my whole life. I’m not going to dwell on that. It’s over with now."

There is no word as to who might have thrown the banana at Simmonds.

Sadly, such incidents have happened before. In 2002, a fan at a Montreal Canadiens game threw a banana at Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Kevin Weekes.