NHL takes a pause of a different kind

For some, the NHL players’ actions on Thursday will always be a day late. Others may wish they hadn’t taken the unprecedented steps – for their hockey brethren – at all.

But no matter how the players arrived at this juncture, the players forced the NHL to postpone its Stanley Cup playoff games for Thursday and Friday in solidarity with players from the NBA, MLB, WNBA and MLS as they try to raise awareness of the racial unrest in the aftermath of the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as well as other similar incidents, which reignited the summer of upheaval that started with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

Official word that the NHL was postponing the games didn’t come until just about an hour before the Flyers and Islanders were set to play, but it was clear earlier in the day the Thursday’s games were not happening.

“After much discussion, NHL Players believe that the best course of action would be to take a step back and not play (Thursday’s and Friday’s) games as scheduled. The NHL supports the Players’ decision and will reschedule those four games beginning Saturday and adjust the remainder of the Second Round schedule accordingly,” read a joint statement from the league and NHLPA.

“Black and Brown communities continue to face real, painful experiences. The NHL and NHLPA recognize that much work remains to be done before we can play an appropriate role in a discussion centered on diversity, inclusion and social justice.

“We understand that the tragedies involving Jacob Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others require us to recognize this moment. We pledge to work to use our sport to influence positive change in society.

“The NHLPA and NHL are committed to working to foster more inclusive and welcoming environments within our arenas, offices and beyond.”

The Bruins were scheduled to play Game 4 of their series with the Lightning on Friday, but the league was still in the process of rescheduling the games on Thursday night.

In what would be a rare sight in the middle of hotly contested, bitter playoff series, the combatants met the press together on Zoom from the bubble in Toronto — the Bruins’ Zdeno Chara and the Lightning’s Kevin Shattenkirk at one table, the Islanders’ Anders Lee and Flyers James vanRiemsdyk at the adjacent table.

The NHL and, by extension, the B’s and Lightning came under some heavy criticism on social and traditional media alike for playing on Wednesday after the Milwaukee Bucks staged what was essentially a wildcat strike that spurred the postponement of all NBA games on Wednesday as well as games in other sports.

In his post-game press conference, Chara said that the team had its usual pre-game tunnel vision and could not fully grasp what was going.

“We had these conversations this morning amongst our teams and obviously around the league and union,” said Chara. “These days need to be used in the right manner. Obviously we need to step back and reflect a little bit, just to take a little moment to step back and realize what’s going on. Obviously, there’s a problem in the States and there’s obviously a right reason for all the major sports to do what they’re doing right now to all realize there needs to be change. Obviously, the conversations and the acts are going to be very important to follow.”

In the Zoom conference from the Edmonton bubble, a large group of players stood behind Ryan Reaves, one of a small number of Black players in the league.

“I got to war with these guys and I hate their guts on the ice,” said Reaves. “But I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. This statement we’re making today is something that’s going to last.”

If there was ever a convenient time for these actions to place for the leagues and franchises, it is now. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans are allowed in the stands, so there’s no loss of proceeds from the gates. And with the NHL and NBA operating their playoffs in bubble environments, games can be rescheduled much more easily than if travel and building availability was involved.

While the Wild’s Matt Dumba of the recently formed Hockey Diversity Alliance made clear on social media that the action was initiated by the players, the Bruins’ released a statement: “The Bruins are proud of our players for using their platform to bring further attention to a movement that is important to them, our organization and our game.

“They have our unwavering support, as we all work to promote equality and end racism.”

The idea to step back for a couple of days got rolling when the Flyers’ James vanRiemsdyk, Scott Laughton and the Shattenkirk reached out to Chris Stewart of the HDA to see what should be done. The talks grew from there.

“We got to speak with some of the players in the bubble in Edmonton,” said Shattenkirk, the Boston University product. “Vancouver and Vegas I think were considering sitting out (Thursday) and we got to speak with them, we got to speak with Ryan Reaves and talk about the issue at hand and how important this is, I think it was something we were all fully behind. Obviously, with what transpired (Wednesday) and the other leagues opting out, I think we took our time and were able to process this as a whole and speak to this as a group of players and make the right decision I think unified us as a group to realize that any Black player in this league, any Black player who’s a kid coming up in hockey can feel like they have a voice, can feel like the NHL and the sport itself is a safe place. Obviously in a predominantly white, they can feel alienated but they have the support of every singe one of us and that’s what we’re striving to achieve here, is inclusion and making sure everyone feels welcome in the sport of hockey.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2YI4Gjb