Bobby Orr has announced his endorsement of Donald Trump for president.
The Hockey Hall of Famer placed in the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state’s largest newspaper, on Friday stating that Trump is "the kind of teammate I want."
"Everyone has an opinion as our upcoming Presidential election approaches, and I am no different," he wrote in the advertisement that included a picture of Orr, his wife Peggy and Trump. "When I look at America during these turbulent times, I keep trying to separate style from substance, fact from fiction.
"This much I know. Our current President has had to operate under extremely difficult conditions over these past several years. In addition, no leader anywhere signed up with the idea that dealing with a worldwide pandemic would be part of their mandate. The attacks on our president have been unrelenting since the day he took office. Despite that, President Trump has delivered for all the American people, regardless of race, gender, or station in life."
Orr, a native of Parry Sound, Ont., who lives in Florida, spent 10 of his 12 NHL seasons patrolling the blue line for the Bruins. According to Boston.com, Orr donated $5,000 to Trump's presidential campaign in July.Bobby Orr personally placed an ad endorsing @realDonaldTrump in today’s @UnionLeader. #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/sLw4y2VesG
— Patrick Hynes (@patjhynes) October 30, 2020
"Perhaps you do not like his tweets or how the President says things sometimes, and that is your right," he continued. "But remember this is not a personality contest; it's about policies and the people those policies assist.
"I have never done anything like this before, but I am greatly concerned for the country in which I have raised my family — a country I have grown to love deeply. I want my grandchildren to know the America I know, a place of patriotism and opportunity."
The newspaper the ad appeared in has endorsed Joe Biden. A conservative paper, it had endorsed Republican candidates for 100 years until 2016 when it backed Gary Johnson (libertarian). Hillary Clinton won the state in 2016 by the slimmest of margins (.37 percent).
Orr's endorsement comes on the heels of golf legend's Jack Nicklaus' and Brett Favre's backing of Trump as well.