The Hockey Diversity Alliance has formally asked the NHL to stop all playoff games on Thursday, according to a tweet from Evander Kane, the group’s co-leader.
“We feel strongly that this sends a clear message that human rights take precedence over sport,” Kane tweeted.
We the @TheOfficialHDA have formally the @NHL to suspend all play-off games today. We strongly believe that this sends a clear message that human rights take precedence over sport.
– Evander Kane (@ evanderkane_9) August 27, 2020
Sources told ESPN that the NHL and NHL Players ‘Association have been in communication for the past 24 hours, but the league will not start stopping unless there is strong pressure from the players’ side.
The NHLPA will hold a conference call with players on Thursday afternoon to get an idea of where they stand. Meanwhile, the NHL on Thursday afternoon postponed several scheduled media outlets.
Jacob Blake, a black man, was shot seven times Sunday by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as he tried to enter the door of the driver of his car. Video of the shooting was circulated on social media, prompting more protests and causing or speaking out for more athletes.
Games in the NBA, Major League Baseball, MLS and the WNBA were postponed Wednesday night in protest of racial injustice. However, the NHL completed its full streak of three playoff games, including the Philadelphia Flyers’ 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Those two teams are scheduled to meet again Thursday night.
On Thursday morning, Islanders coach Barry Trotz said his players discussed the possibility of boycotting their game, scheduled for 7 pm ET, although he predicted they would eventually decide to play.
“I know our team has this discussion,” Trotz said. “I think we’re a pretty mature group. I trust that group and the leadership of guys like that [captain] Otherwise [Lee], and they are excellent in that way. They understand the importance of the playoffs, but they also understand where the world is right now.
“What happened yesterday, we were not really informed what happened. We played when all this happened. If you digest it, I think what happened yesterday is a great statement for athletes. They have a great platform and get to use it. “
Trotz’s opponent, Flyers coach Alain Vigneault, said he was so focused on the series that he was unaware of the protests that were taking place in other sports leagues on Wednesday.
“I really have no idea what’s going on in the outside world,” Vigneault said Thursday morning. “We’m in this bubble right now. I’m invested in our team 24/7, working 20 hours a day through video and creating our group for.
Players from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, who played ET at 8pm on Wednesday, said they only found out about the NBA boycott when they got to the rink, at which point they felt it was too late was to have a full discussion about following costume. The NHL held a moment of reflection for that game, though they did not have a similar pregame moment in the Edmonton bubble for the Dallas Stars-Colorado Avalanche game.
Neither the Stars nor Avalanche said they had discussions about boycotts.
“If our players, even one player, had come up to me and said, ‘Hey, I do not think we should play,’ then we would have tackled it as a team. But I never got word from anyone in ‘ the room, ”Lawine coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s obviously an important topic. It’s something we have to think long and hard about as a country. But I just think tonight might not have been the time and place for us.”
The Hockey Diversity Alliance was founded in June and is co-led by Kane, a San Jose Sharks winger, and Akim Aliu, a former player who made headlines in November when he came forward and said Calgary Flames- coach Bill Peters used a racial slur against him. while they were in the minors about ten years ago. Peters resigned shortly thereafter.
The HDA’s executive committee has prominent minority players in the NHL, including Minnesota Wild defender Matt Dumba, Detroit Red Wings defender Trevor Daley, Buffalo Sabers striker Wayne Simmonds, Flyers forward Chris Stewart and recently retired forward Joel Ward.
“We will strive to be a force for positive change, not just within our hockey game, but within society,” the players said in a letter announcing the formation of the group in June. “While we will be independent of the NHL, we hope to work productively with the league to achieve these important changes. We believe in the importance of accountability in developing inclusivity and diversity for all involved in our sports, including fans and the league office. “
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