A strong image emerged from the preseason game between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night and that was before the initial face-off.
National Hockey League players have expressed their solidarity in the face of social injustices and the Black Lives Matter movement since the return of activities in Toronto and Edmonton, sometimes standing side by side on the two blue lines even though they were not from not from the same team or by all regrouping in the center of the ice during the national anthems.
Rather than standing still, Jordan Greenway of the Wild put his hand on the shoulder of Nazem Kadri of the Avalanche, who in turn put his hand on Matt Dumba’s shoulder. The latter did the same with that of Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, teammate of Kadri.
Asked to react after the game, Kadri said he was happy that his co-workers are joining the cause that has set the United States ablaze in the last weeks after the death of Georges Floyd, a black man killed by suffocation in Minnesota during of an arrest by a white policeman.
Racism to be eliminated
The Ontario forward, however, sent an arrow to the NHL executives who he says are not doing enough on this file.
“I think it was a good moment of solidarity with everything that is happening in the world right now with injustices and the issue of racism. It’s important to be all united among the players and to take a stand.
“Hockey is a great sport and we all try to do better. We’re trying to make this sport a little more diverse, but that won’t happen if the racism continues. It is therefore an important thing for us to address […]. As for the League, I think I would like to see a greater awareness and see that we look at this issue and see them [les dirigeants] stand up with their players, ”he observed in videoconference.
A member of the Wild for a seventh season, Dumba believes that this gesture, no matter how small, can bring some comfort to those who have to fight daily for their rights because of the color of their skin.
“I think to see us standing together was to demonstrate that we are united in this battle against racism and that we stand up for those, especially in our community in Minnesota, who have faced and lived through the tragedy. of recent months, and those who continue to use this strategy across the States.
“Knowing that we have allies like our teammates and that our organizations are behind us is very powerful. To see us, the four, standing as players of color in this sport, I hope it sends a strong message, ”said the 26-year-old full-back.
Along with other NHL flagships, Dumba created the Alliance for Hockey Diversity in June following the tragic events in Minneapolis in order to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey.
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