The NHL unveiled a series of anti-racism initiatives Thursday more than eight months after Akim Aliu brought the subject to the forefront in the predominantly white sport.
The league and NHL Players’ Association are planning mandatory inclusion and diversity training for all players at camp; partnering with the Hockey Diversity Alliance to launch a grassroots program for young players of color in the Toronto area; and working together on several inclusion committees aimed at encouraging diversity among management, professional and youth players and fans.
“We applaud the NHL players for recognizing the importance of this moment and coming together in a real movement for change,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “We look forward to working with all the voices of change to fight for equality and expand access to the game we all love.”
The moves come amid growing pressure from current and former minority players for the league to take concrete steps to combat systemic racism. Nazem Kadri of Colorado, a founding member of the alliance formed earlier this summer, reviewed the initiatives before they were announced and believes they demonstrate progress.
“As a member of the HDA, we have tried to define certain policies and initiatives that affect the core curriculum and the entire educational process,” Kadri said. “One of the first things we need to do is start educating the kids, the players, the staff. So it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
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The NHL agreed to create committees for the inclusion of management, players, youth and fans after Aliu met with the Board of Governors in December following his allegations that coach Bill Peters had used racist language towards him among minors. Peters resigned from his position in Calgary and the league began to address racism in hockey.
Aliu recently told the Associated Press that he and other HDA members want to see the league do tangible things to make a difference. He brought up the fact that arenas controlled by the NHL serve as polling stations, which the NBA has agreed to do. The two leagues share some buildings.
“The other thing is a financial commitment,” Aliu said. “The NHL needs to find money for the black and brown community.”
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The Toronto-area program and another pilot program in the United States are a step in that direction, and the league has also committed to financially supporting the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University’s research program aimed at improve the criminal justice system.
In addition to players and the NHLPA undergoing mandatory inclusion and diversity training, league and team employees will participate in similar programs.
“Everyone should be able to live and work in an environment that is inclusive and free from racism and discrimination in any form,” said NHLPA General Manager Don Fehr. “In our sport, from the NHL to youth programs, we must take steps to achieve this goal and make our sport available and accessible to everyone.”
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Aliu said the league asked Dumba to speak after she was criticized for not having a plan to address racism when the sport returns.
“We feel like we saved them,” Aliu said. “It wasn’t about them giving us a platform, we bailed them out. They asked us to do it for them. So, I think it’s important for people to know that. Now when things will happen, you will know who was honest and what was real and what was fake (That’s) where we are now.”
More substantive action occurred when players pushed to postpone two days of playoff games following the police shooting of black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Players have spoken at length about using their platform to raise awareness about systemic racism, and the league made it part of its pregame presentation when games resumed.
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