Ron MacLean is doing damage control after a pregame bit on Sportsnet's Game 6 coverage of the Stanley Cup Final in Las Vegas went sideways, fast. During a spoof of The Hangover that showed Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard asleep beside the trophy, the longtime host tossed out a quick one-liner about "roofies" that landed with viewers as a lot more than a harmless movie nod. Before the night was over, he was back on camera apologizing.
MacLean's exact line, "The roofies, they'll get you every time," sparked immediate pushback. He returned during an intermission, calling it "a bad mistake by me" and saying he regretted using shorthand that "has far more serious connotations in reality." As USA TODAY reported, MacLean said he was referencing a scene from the movie in which a tiger is drugged, and he made it clear he wished he had chosen his words differently.
The Clip Raced Across Social Media
It did not take long for the moment to escape the broadcast. Clips of both the joke and the apology were up on X and other platforms within minutes, drawing a mix of criticism and defense from fans. Yahoo Sports noted that viewers quickly posted the segment to social media, and that MacLean's apology aired during an intermission while Game 6 carried on in Las Vegas.
Why A 'Roofies' Line Hits A Nerve
Even when tossed out as a joke, "roofies" is not a neutral term. Roofies, or flunitrazepam, are closely associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault and can cause memory loss, heavy sedation and other serious effects. According to Northwestern Medicine, victims who ingest the drug, often without their knowledge, can be left especially vulnerable, which makes the slang itself understandably triggering for many survivors. That context helps explain how a movie callback turned into a backlash flashpoint.
Not MacLean's First On-Air Misstep
MacLean has been in hot water on live TV before. Global News points back to a 2021 incident in which he apologized for another remark that some viewers found offensive, a reminder that this kind of moment is not entirely new territory for the veteran host.
This time, MacLean told viewers he felt "very badly" about the line and thanked those who voiced concerns. The broadcast shifted its focus back to the game, but the clip kept circulating online, fueling debate long after the puck dropped. Whether there are any lasting repercussions for MacLean or Sportsnet is still an open question, yet the episode underscored how a single sentence can hijack the spotlight during the Stanley Cup Final.
