Nelson Mandela
Nelson MandelaReuters

Nelson Mandela: anti-apartheid champion, President of South Africa... and ice hockey legend?

Well, no. But apparently one Canadian hockey player thinks so.

Speaking at a fundraiser in honor of Mandela, who passed away one year ago, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier was asked what he knew about him, and responded by praising his record - as an ice-hockey player.

Oh dear.

"A lot of impact in any kind of sport that he did, and even playing hockey, everyone knows him, right? From being the type of person that he was off the ice and on the ice. It’s unfortunate that he passed a year ago, but, he changed a lot while he was with us, and he’s a tremendous guy."

Sure.

And there's more. Here's what Bernier had to say when asked how Mandela had inspired him.

"I just think the way he met that is, you know, to me growing up playing sports with my parents was something really special cause I could share, try to be a leader, try to share things, and things like that where, you know when you’re a group sport you need to do that right?"

Right.

Right?