Jonathan Bernier referred to Nelson Mandela as “one of the most known athletes in the world”.

Jonathan Bernier referred to Nelson Mandela as “one of the most known athletes in the world”. Image: Global News/YouTube

Canadian ice hockey star ‘remembers’ Nelson Mandela ‘on and off the ice’

Get the puck out of here! A video of a Canadian goalie referring to Nelson Mandela as an ice hockey player, has resurfaced.

Jonathan Bernier referred to Nelson Mandela as “one of the most known athletes in the world”.

Jonathan Bernier referred to Nelson Mandela as “one of the most known athletes in the world”. Image: Global News/YouTube

Days after Texas governor Greg Abbott tweeted that South Africans are crossing the United States border illegally, a clip of a Canadian professional ice hockey goalie referring to Nelson Mandela as “one of the most known athletes in the world” resurfaced on Facebook.

Jonathan Bernier and his Nelson Mandela ‘ice hockey player’ faux pas

In the clip, Jonathan Bernier seemingly forgot who the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, former president and philanthropist was exactly.

According to Cape Town etc, the interviewer approached Bernier at an event where Mandela was being honoured on the first anniversary of his passing in 2014:

“Just wanted to ask you. Obviously Nelson Mandela, one of the most significant historical figures of the 20th century… what knowledge or awareness did you have of him growing up”.

“He is one of the most known athletes in the world and a lot of impact in any kind of sport that he did,” Bernier said. “Even playing hockey, everyone knows him right. From being the type of person he was off the ice and on the ice. But you know he changed a lot while he was with us. He’s a tremendous guy.”

While Mandela did enjoy boxing and long-distance running in his youth, he did not become a professional hockey player as Bernier thought.

Social media reacts

Some social media users believe that Bernier maybe only heard the name “Nelson” and not necessarily “Nelson Mandela”.

Others said that if you’re going to go to a charity event you should do some research on the charity.

Setting the record straight

At the time, Bernier set the record straight with a local news publication, saying that he was embarrassed.

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“I’m embarrassed.  I didn’t mean to offend him, his legacy. I got flustered with the red carpet and I was nervous. I think everyone makes mistakes and that was me that night,” he said according to a report in The Toronto Star.