It was a bold statement, the kind you don’t often hear from a hockey player.
When Evander Kane spoke on ESPN last week about race in America, he called out other athletes, particularly white hockey players.
“We need so many more athletes that don’t look like me speaking out about this, having the same amount of outrage that I have inside, and using that to voice their opinion, to voice their frustration,” Kane said. “Because that’s the only way it’s going to change. We’ve been outraged for hundreds of years, and nothing’s changed.
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“It’s time for guys like Tom Brady and Sidney Crosby, and those type of figures, to speak up about what is right and what is, clearly in this case, unbelievably wrong. That’s the only way we’re going to actually create this unified anger to create that necessary change, especially when you talk about systematic racism.”
While he mentioned Crosby by name, Kane’s message was clear. He wanted to hear players speak out, and he didn’t just want to hear it from the likes of PK Subban or Akim Aliu. He wanted to hear it from players who haven’t been victims of systemic racism, especially those with a large platform.
What has happened since has been uncharacteristic of hockey culture, which usually steers clear of social issues. NHL players from all backgrounds have answered Kane’s call. They’re speaking out, in many cases with thoughtful messages from some of the league’s most high-profile players.
The list of top players who have shared written messages about racism now reads like an All-Star roster, and they’ve come not just from the league’s Black players:
- Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
- Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks)
- Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Morgan Rielly (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- PK Subban (New Jersey Devils)
- Bo Horvat (Vancouver Canucks)
- Darnell Nurse (Edmonton Oilers)
- Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings)
- Taylor Hall (Arizona Coyotes)
- Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars)
- Logan Couture (San Jose Sharks)
- Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets)
- Anthony Duclair (Ottawa Senators)
- Anders Lee (New York Islanders)
- Nick Foligno (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Kyle Turris (Nashville Predators)
- Matt Dumba (Minnesota Wild)
The list, which also includes players like Troy Stecher and Jake Virtanen of the Vancouver Canucks, Pat Maroon (Tampa Bay Lightning), and JT Brown (Minnesota Wild), is now too lengthy too include everyone.
One of the most powerful messages came from Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who, like many of his NHL colleagues, is not well known for speaking out about social issues.
“A lot of people may claim these riots and acts of destruction are a terrible response. I’ll be the first to admit that as a white male that was also my first reaction,” said Toews.
“But who am I to tell someone that their pain is not real? Especially when it is at a boiling point and impossible to hold in anymore. It’s obviously coming from a place of truth. This reaction isn’t coming out of thin air.
“I’m not condoning or approving the looting, but are we really going to sit here and say that peaceful protesting is the only answer? There has been plenty of time for that, and if it was the answer we would’ve given it our full attention long ago.”
RIP George Floyd 💔so sad to see what happening everywhere and DC!! it is so important for us to respect and love each other no matter what we look like!!!! We need listen and do change…pls stay safe….take care each other and family 🙏🙏🙏
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) June 2, 2020
Dallas Stars centre Tyler Seguin also shared one of the more powerful messages.
“I haven’t felt good all week. I’ve felt fear and an uneasiness to speak up. This is the first time in my life where I’ve really had this feeling,” said Seguin. “I’m a white hockey player and it’s not my place to say I can ever truly understand. But as I witness and digest the gravity of the pain that others are going through, at the very least I want to show my support.
“If anything, I can say my sense of empathy is growing. I’m listening harder than ever, but I don’t like what I’m hearing. I see people’s pain much more clearly, specifically in the black community. Seeing George Floyd’s life drained from him was horrific and startling. It still doesn’t compute and it isn’t right.”
Here’s a look at some of the many messages shared by NHL players in recent days:
— Auston Matthews (@AM34) June 1, 2020
— John Tavares (@91Tavares) June 2, 2020
It’s hard to articulate my feelings right now. That said, what’s happening is wrong. We all have a responsibility to act; to listen, to learn, to speak up but most importantly to never accept anything less than equality, justice, anti-racism and love.
— morgan rielly (@mriles4) June 1, 2020
🙌🏿❤️🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/un1Nj58jcC
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) May 30, 2020
#BlackLivesMatter #DifferentTogether pic.twitter.com/GhwIqaKVWN
— Bo Horvat (@BoHorvat) June 1, 2020
Strong words @KayNurse11 👊🏽 We must continue to strive for a better tomorrow through education and actions! Sending love and strength to everyone hurting at this time ❤️ Stay Safe https://t.co/3gBISYDWmk
— Darnell Nurse (@drtwofive) June 1, 2020
— Steven Stamkos (@RealStamkos91) June 2, 2020
— Anze Kopitar (@AnzeKopitar) May 31, 2020
— Taylor Hall (@hallsy09) June 2, 2020
— Tyler Seguin (@tseguinofficial) June 2, 2020
My thoughts. Sorry if this offends anyone. All love ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9BbktIrxqd
— Logan Couture (@Logancouture) May 30, 2020
I needed to say something in my own words. pic.twitter.com/VpkidaMjbX
— Blake Wheeler (@BiggieFunke) May 31, 2020
WE all have a voice, use it. Help create an environment where WE can all be treated equally. No matter what your race, religion or belief you may have, you should not stay silent about social inequality. Please spread the word. #JusticeForAll https://t.co/dxfkUwn7E9
— Anthony Duclair (@aduclair10) May 31, 2020
https://t.co/KJl8kP08qH pic.twitter.com/VUoIoSTazN
— Nick Foligno (@NickFoligno) June 1, 2020
— Anders Lee (@leeberr09) June 1, 2020
I’m going to listen and educate myself. This is a WE problem. This is about human rights. We need to make the world a better place. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
— Kyle Turris (@kyleturris) May 30, 2020
— Matt Dumba (@matt_dumba) June 2, 2020
— Pat Maroon (@patmaroon) June 2, 2020
— Troy Stecher (@troystecher) June 1, 2020
We must be better.
We must raise awareness through education.
We must be together to make needed change.
Equality for all, justice for all.
I take the pledge.#DifferentTogether— Jake Virtanen (@Jake_Virtanen) June 1, 2020
We’re all hurting, centuries of racism and oppression spilling into the streets. Our voices suppressed far too long, now violence seen as our only ally. The voices of ALL must be heard, this fight belongs to EVERYONE. Stop the hate, stop the MURDERING. History will not forget.
— Akim Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) May 29, 2020
Today I saw my community giving, mourning, preaching, singing, cleaning, and demanding justice. Until you’ve walked the streets of America Black, you cannot tell us how to grieve. I am proud of the beauty and strength I saw today. pic.twitter.com/CnQu6Lz5ZW
— JT Brown (@JTBrown23) May 31, 2020