One of the biggest questions that was asked as the National Hockey League began to play again was league and players respectively going to continue the social justice strides that were made over the summer. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the influx of protest happening across North America, a plethora of hockey players spoke out against the injustice they were seeing. This is probably one of the first time in recent history that there was this uproar like this from the league. The NHL has a long history of being a “conservative” league when it comes to speaking out against issues happening in the world, especially when compared to other professional sports leagues.
The NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone initiative often feels empty because the league and the players never back it up with actual work…and the last couple of weeks prove that. Once again, the brunt the of work is being done by players of color. San Jose Sharks’ forward Evander Kane, alongside the help of ex NHL player Akim Aliu, has started the Hockey Diversity Alliance. This alliance was signed by several other player of color in hopes to working in tandem with the NHL to create an environment safe for black people and people of color who want to play the game.
Minnesota Wild defensemen Matt Dumba, member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, gave a moving speech before a Blackhawks vs Oilers playoff qualifying game and became the first NHL player to kneel during the National Anthem. JT Brown, who’s in the Tampa Bay Lighting system, first caused a stir back in 2017 when he raised his fist during the National Anthem and is known activist in his community. Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri called the league out on needing to support their players of colors more (the clip conveniently being cut out by the Avalanche’s media team).
All of these men have put their careers on the line to speak out against treatment they have received themselves but also to create a dialogue to help the new generation of people of color who love hockey. The burden to change this sport should not be on the players who already have to deal with not being supported based off the color of their skin.
“Lonely” is how Brown described the feeling of being not only the lone black players on a team, but also the only players willing to say anything about the injustices that plague the league.
The white allies in the league need to start putting their money where their mouth is. Tyler Seguin, Robin Lehner, and Jason Dickinson all kneeled along side Golden Knight player Ryan Reaves, and that’s amazing, but we need more white players willing to take a stand. It is not enough to wear Black Lives Matter shirts or say to call your black friends when you do not have the where withal to google something. The only way serious change is going to happen is if everyone is on bored, which should not be a problem right… because hockey IS for everyone.
Unfinished Business 