Utah NHL team walks to arena after bus gets stuck in Toronto traffic

By The Canadian Press on November 25, 2024.

Utah Hockey Club centre Logan Cooley (92) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with teammates during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on November 24, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO – Utah’s NHL team says players were forced to walk to their game against the Maple Leafs after their bus got stuck in Toronto traffic Sunday night.

The Utah Hockey Club posted an Instagram video of team members marching to Scotiabank Arena, with player Maveric Lamoureux saying the bus was “not moving at all.”

Several city streets had been closed during the day for the annual Santa Claus parade.

The viral incident prompted Premier Doug Ford to call the congestion “embarrassing” and “unacceptable,” highlighting his government’s plan to address the city’s gridlock through bike lane legislation.

It wasn’t the first time a Toronto visitor had to ditch their vehicle to make it to an event on time.

In June, former One Direction band member Niall Horan had to walk through traffic to get to his concert at Scotiabank Arena.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024.