Top 5 Most Influential People in the NHL: Hockey Diversity Alliance

Race and specifically racism has been at the forefront of many people’s minds now more than ever. As I discussed with Kim Davis yesterday, the league has formed various committees in response to the protests across the U.S. and around the world, but there is one specific alliance that has formed. The Hockey Diversity Alliance was announced on June 8 and includes former and current NHL players like Akim Aliu, Trevor Daley, Wayne Simmonds, Joel Ward, Evander Kane, Matt Dumba, and Chris Stewart. Here you can see their official press release:

Each of these players hold a unique perspective on the NHL. Akim Aliu recently wrote about his time playing hockey in a recent Players’ Tribune article in May. He discusses the hazing he faced at the hands of another player during his time in the OHL. The stories are horrific and not how any youth should experience hockey. But it didn’t stop there. After being drafted by Chicago in 2007, he played for their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs under head coach Bill Peters. Just this past November, Aliu came forward about the horrendous behavior that Peters displayed toward him. Peters berated Aliu one night in the locker room over his music choice by calling him the n- word over and over. While his teammates tried to stick up for him, there wasn’t much they could do for fear of losing their career as well. Aliu was eventually sent away to the ECHL after Peters asked the GM to do so. After this story surfaced, Peters resigned from the Calgary Flames where he was serving as the head coach.

While this group operates independently of the NHL and their efforts, Kim Davis has stated she hopes that both can work together to change the narrative and continue the conversation around race in the league and in hockey specifically. Since the events at the end of 2019 transpired, the NHL has been actively working on a way to handle the lack of inclusiveness in the league. Now they are ready to roll out their initiatives and the Hockey Diversity Alliance is ready to get to work. Just like the committees the NHL has put together to promote inclusiveness of hockey at different levels, the alliance looks to do the same. “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.”

This effort is starting with the players but also stems to the coaches, other staff, owners, etc. of each individual team. It is important that each team create a culture of inclusivity where each player feels like he can be totally himself and inspire a better performance on the ice. We must continue to listen and we must do better if not for this generation of hockey players for the all future generations to come.

To follow these players:

Akim Aliu

Instagram: @dreamer_aliu78

Twitter: @dreamer_aliu78

Wayne Simmonds

Twitter: @Simmonds17

Joel Ward

Twitter: @JRandalWard42

Evander Kane

Instagram: @evander9kane

Twitter: @evanderkane_9

Matt Dumba

Instagram: @matt.dumba

Twitter: @matt_dumba