Barrie Colts fined $15K by OHL over 'no one cares, work harder' answers at news conference

The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has fined the Barrie Colts $15,000 after Monday night's post-playoff game news conference, where the coach and team captain gave only one response: "No one cares, work harder."

The fine was handed down two days after the Colts' 5-0 road win over the Brantford Bulldogs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, allowing them to move on to the OHL title series against the Kitchener Rangers.

At the brief media availability, Colts head coach Dylan Smoskowitz and captain Kashawn Aitcheson refused to respond to media questions with little more than that catchphrase.

Aitcheson, for example, was asked about his goal and the play of his teammate, goaltender Ben Hrebik, who made 40 saves.

"Uh, no one cares, work harder," the defenceman responded.

When Smoskowitz was asked how it felt to lose Game 4 by a 6-1 score, and come back to win the series, he answered, "It's a good question. No one cares, work harder."

In a Tuesday interview with TSN's Overdrive that the Colts have pinned to the top of their X account, Smoskowitz took the blame for the responses. He said he was reacting to being told he couldn't have the whole team with him for the media availability.

Dylan Smoskowitz speaks candidly on <a href="https://twitter.com/OverDrive1050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OverDrive1050</a> about last night’s <a href="https://twitter.com/OHLHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OHLHockey</a> press conference conversation and the emotions behind a Game 7 battle. <a href="https://t.co/BVxm2bs4ba">pic.twitter.com/BVxm2bs4ba</a>

"All year long, it's been about this brotherhood," he said to the Overdrive hosts.

"Instead of being an adult about it, and being mature about it and saying, 'OK, no problem, let's go and have a normal