Edmonton Oil Kings’ Griffin Reinhart responds to social media criticism after loss to Foreurs

LONDON, Ont. — The Tall Poppy Syndrome is strong with this one.

Prior to Tuesday night, Edmonton Oil Kings star defenceman Griffin Reinhart had not tweeted since posting a photo of himself with the WHL championship trophy after the Game 7 win in Portland. As a likely future NHL defenceman with a strong sense of responsibility, though, Reinhart had to see what was out there after he was on the ice for tying and overtime goals during the Oil Kings' loss to Val-d'Or on Tuesday. Sure enough, a lot of people on the Oil Kings bandwagon were picking nits with the big man's game. Reinhart lost the puck to Anthony Mantha on the equalizer and was on the ice for the breakaway winner, two little data points on a night where he logged 40 minutes.

"A lot of fans do know the game, but they say spur-of-the-moment things," Reinhart said. "I don't read too much into it. It's kind of entertaining to me. They can do what they want. It's their lives. It's their Twitter.

"You can see a lot of it at world juniors, it even magnifies that much more. Athletes are used to it. Even the best player in the world will get criticized."

Reinhart deemed it necessary to comment on the venting, but knew it was just that, emotions being released by people who can't affect the outcome. Mitch Moroz, his teammate for four seasons, also did a tongue-in-check pile-on.

"I just wanted to lighten the mood," Moroz said. "He's probably got a lot of pressure on him. Everyone thinks they're an expert from behind a screen or a keyboard so you got to keep it light sometimes. It was just kind of a fun little joke."

Teams after are supposed to observe a period of somber quiet time after a big loss then, in hockey-speak, turn the page. Seeing Moroz make light of the kneejerk reaction helped Reinhart move onward and upward.

"He's always got those smart-ass remarks. It was a little clip from Happy Gilmore with Bob Barker, I think, and it was that golf scene. It was 'you suck.' I was actually behind him when he made it. He thought it was funny and I thought it was funny too."

It goes without saying the Oil Kings would not be at the Memorial Cup without Reinhart. The 6-foot-4, 202-pound New York Islanders first-round pick became the rare defenceman to capture playoff MVP honours after leading Edmonton to a seven-game victory. Portland's powerful attack was held to fewer than three goals a game in the series.

The Memorial Cup, though, means more cameras, more focus and more chances to everyone to form and send out an opinion. The No. 1 defenceman often becomes a lightning rod. Being scrutinized like a NHLer comes with the territory.

"People are fans for a reason," said Moroz, a second-round choice of the Edmonton Oilers. "They pay to watch the games and pay to be passionate. At the same time we're teenage kids and some stuff gets through to us."

Of course, even in high def, someone watching at home can't dissect every little bit of a contentious play. All Reinhart could do was take the digs as his burden to bear.

"I guess it was funny," he said. "It's a fan's perspective. They can't always see it as well."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.