Duncan Keith On Controversial Comments: 'Call Me A Sore Loser Maybe'

(CBS) Two days after a controversial exchange with a female reporter in Vancouver, Duncan Keith said the comments came from frustration after losing to the Canucks.

The Blackhawks defenseman didn't apologize for what he said, but he did say that he respects the work of reporters.

"I think over the years, people who have dealt with me know that I respect the reporters," Keith said Wednesday in Edmonton. "I respect everybody's job and what they do. Sometimes, especially after a loss, I think I can be fired up. I don't like to lose. I get frustrated when I lose, so, you know, call me a sore loser maybe. I don't know. But I think that's part of it. I think after a tough loss, I was frustrated from losing. To me, that's all it was."

Keith's comments came after Karen Thomson from Team 1040 in Vancouver pressed him on a possible penalty that wasn't called when the defenseman appeared to slash Daniel Sedin. The exchange was as follows:

Keith: "Oh, no. I don't think there was anything. I think he scored a nice goal. The ref was right there. That's what the ref saw. We should get you as a ref maybe, eh?"

Thomson: "Yeah, maybe."

Keith: The first female … "

Thomson: "I can't skate, though."

Keith: "The first female referee. You can't play probably either, right? But you're thinking the game like you know it? Okay, see ya."

Soon after the exchange, Keith was accused by many on social media of being sexist.

So was he surprised it became a big deal?

"I guess it did get a lot of attention, obviously everybody is here right now. But for me, I've moved on. That's all it is," he said.

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• Vancouver Canucks
• Duncan Keith