Posted on October 16, 2020

Hockey Diversity Alliance Parts Ways with NHL

Chris Bengal, CBS Sports, October 8, 2020

The Hockey Diversity Alliance is cutting ties with the NHL. The HDA called the league’s recent equality work “performative” and expressed disappointment with the NHL not being committed to ending “systemic racism in hockey.”

“{snip} Unfortunately, the support we hoped (to get) from the NHL was not delivered and instead the NHL focused on performative public relations efforts that seemed aimed at quickly moving past important conversations about race needed in the game,” the organization told TSN’s Frank Seravalli. “{snip}… it is clear that the NHL is not prepared to make any measurable commitments to end systemic racism in hockey.”

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The organization was founded following the death of George Floyd… {snip}

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“In creating our alliance, we are confident we can inspire a new generation of hockey players and fans,” the Alliance said when it was founded. “We are hopeful that anyone who puts on skates or sits in the stands will do so without worrying about race, gender or socioeconomic background (and) will be able to express their culture, identity, values and personality without fear of retribution.”