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Arizona Coyotes forward Adam Ruzicka shocked fans by posting a video on his Instagram story showing himself posing with a substance alleged to be cocaine. The since-deleted video showed Ruzicka appearing to be readying himself to consume a white powder and grinning for the camera.
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The controversial footage was recorded and shared on social media X, sparking outrage among hockey fans. One commented:
"Just like the Yotes, he's gone."
Ruzicka is a recent addition for Arizona after being claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 24. He has played three games with the Coyotes without recording a point, after tallying three goals and nine points in 39 games as a depth forward for Calgary.
The video could land Ruzicka in trouble with the organization that took a chance on him. The NHL frowns upon drug use and will likely investigate the situation further.
Here are some other reactions to Adam Ruzicka's video:
Regarding the sport's cocaine policy, Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov received a four-year IIHF ban after testing positive for cocaine during the 2019 World Championships. Kuznetsov denied using the drug despite being filmed in a room with cocaine on a table. The NHL accepted his explanation and did not suspend him.
Adam Ruzicka incident comes at a bad time for the Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are on a lengthy loss streak that currently stands at 11 games. While this was always expected to be a rough season, this kind of form is tough on fans and Adam Ruzicka's timing couldn't be much worse.
Ruzicka, who was selected by the Calgary Flames in 2017, will have some tough questions to answer and might find himself without a team. The forward has scored 14 goals in 117 NHL games and accrued a total of 40 points.
The Coyotes are a rebuilding team and there have been few positives for fans this season. Now there will be questions about the team's discipline and culture, while whatever they decide to do with him will also be examined.
