The purpose of this petition is to show your opposition to the St. Louis Blues signing Dillon Dubé to a contract. Dillon Dubé was charged with a violent sexual assault.

The Blues were part of the first NHL expansion.  The team has been a St. Louis institution for almost 60 years with a great history and a proud, dedicated fan base.

Blues fans have a loyal, emotional connection to their team.  They stick by them through thick and thin.  That’s what fans do.

We believe NHL teams, and indeed all professional sports franchises have the responsibility to consider factors beyond legal standard when deciding who represents and plays on their team, and indeed, represents their city.  

What professional athletes do and how they conduct themselves matter.  They are more than merely entertainers. They are role models for the millions of young fans who watch them on television, wear their jerseys, and aspire to follow in their footsteps. Dedicated fans spend their hard-earned money on tickets, jerseys and merchandise to show their loyalty.  

The NHL promotes its players as ambassadors of the sport, and the Blues are no exception.  They send their players out into the community to support charitable causes and engage with the fan base on a personal level.  However, with that visibility comes responsibility.

A player's reputation can influence not only their own image but also the image of the teams, sponsors, and the communities connected to them. Dillon Dubé was credibly charged with sexual assault and does not meet the moral principles to be a role model in our community.

Women make up roughly 34 to 40 percent of the hockey fanbase in the United States and Canada. This translates to millions of female viewers who actively watch the NHL, the PWHL, and international tournaments like the Winter Olympics. Estimates also show that women make 70 to 80 percent of household purchasing decisions. In other words, it’s the moms and wives and girlfriends who are buying Blues jerseys and other merchandise during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year.  Simply put, women are a vital part of the Blues fan base.

Concerns about misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual assault and the treatment of women in general are at an all-time high.  

Playing professional hockey is a privilege, not a right. We believe the Blues should carefully consider the message it sends when deciding who is given the opportunity to represent the sport and the city on its biggest stage.

In light of speculation that the Blues may sign Dillon Dubé to a free agent contract many fans have already begun to express anger, disappointment, and frustration online at the prospect of Dubé playing for the St. Louis Blues.  This anger will only grow if such a decision is made.  We need look no further than the outrage generated by the Vegas Golden Knights having Carter Hart on display in the Stanley Cup Finals.  It generated significant controversy and criticism, and this criticism has extended beyond the player himself to the organization associated with him.

Reputational consequences are a reality in professional sports, and the recent weeks of the Stanley Cup playoffs have shown the controversy surrounding the case continues to follow Carter Hart and certain of his Canadian World Junior teammates, Dillon Dubé being one of them.

Teams are judged not only by their performance on the ice but also by the values they appear to uphold. When a player becomes the focus of a public controversy, that scrutiny can affect teammates, management, ownership, sponsors, and the league as a whole.

Are the Blues going to be one of those teams who send a message that they are willing to overlook serious personal conduct concerns?  Are the Blues willing to ignore bad behavior ultimately to support their bottom line?

We call upon the St. Louis Blues not to offer Dillon Dubé a contract.  Don’t let a decision such as this tarnish such a great and storied franchise.