Last Updated on: 13th February 2026, 10:37 am
The only Oshawa Generals fan I know I know for sure is Matt, whose Tall Can Audio podcast you should make some time to check out if you haven’t. It’s almost always a solid listen if you like some combination of sports, beer, music, wrestling or media, which I assume you must since you’re here. And yes, I’d say that even if he wasn’t who he is.
It’s been a long time since Matt and I have been in the same room. Time and distance will do that. But we used to see quite a bit of each other, and as best I can remember from those times, he always smelled just fine. A fact which puts him a level above your average Generals spectator, apparently.
This week, the team sent and then promptly apologized for a letter to fans reminding them to acquaint themselves with a touch of soap before heading out on the town.
Earlier this week, the Ontario Hockey League club sent an email to season ticket holders asking them to shower.
“I got a lot of people complaining about the (person) next to them smelling like cat pee, bad breath, this, that and everything else,” Generals director of ticket sales and service Jason Hickman told reporter Tim Kelly at Oshawa This Week.In response, the Gens sent a generic email that encouraged fans for their co-operation “with a few simple hygiene practices.”
Among them was a push to cheer from home for those feeling ill. Another suggestion was to hop in the shower “if you went to the gym or did something that produced body odour.”
I feel bad for this guy, and I’m not sure what I would have done differently in his position. If you’re getting the odd complaint here and there, you can likely brush that off. But if you’ve reached the point where your best customers are regularly bringing up to you that others in their section have them wanting to bring up regularly, you have to do something. If it isn’t an open letter, what is it? Signs at the building? Selling your naming rights to Irish Spring?
Nobody likes being told they smell. I get it. But nobody likes being subjected to it, either. Sometimes you just need to have the talk, and I think this was the best way to have had it. Unless the thing began “Dear Dave, section B, row O, seat 39,” nobody should be taking anything personally. It’s just a reminder about common courtesy. And at least this way, if you do need to take it personally, you can do that in private rather than being centred out by security in front of a few thousand others.