Akim Aliu and his fellow members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance say they feel betrayed and confused by the NHLās decision to launch ā or as far as the HDA is concerned, re-launch ā an inclusion committee to diversify the sport and make hockey more welcoming.
Whatever happened, Aliu wondered, to the league announcing a partnership with the HDA to address the same issues three years ago? And why, the HDA wondered in releasing a scathing statement Wednesday, is the NHL essentially duplicating what theyāve been doing by funneling millions into programs at the grassroots level and introducing hockey to at-risk youths in under-served communities of color?
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āAs the NHL has done so many times, theyāre late to the party, and they still want to show that they want to be involved in the dance,ā Aliu, a veteran who played in a handful of NHL games, told The Associated Press. āThis is their way of showing that this is their bigger and better thing. But I think everyone thatās on the inside of hockey knows whatās really going on and really knows that this is just another faƧade.ā
Aliuās comments mirror the statement he, seven current and former NHL players and the HDAās support staff and sponsors signed off on after holding lengthy discussions since the league unveiled its inclusion committee last week. The HDAās membership includes Matt Dumba, Anthony Duclair and Wayne Simmonds.
āItās a disappointment, but not a surprise that the NHL announced the formation of a `players inclusion coalition,'ā the HDAās statement reads.
āLaudable on its face, laughable in full context of the work we have been doing for three years without the leagueās support,ā it states. āThe NHLās players coalitionās mission statement does not echo the HDAās goals so much as cynically attempt to appropriate them.ā
The NHL and NHL Playersā Association announced the formation of a 20-player committee of current and former players, and earmarked $1 million to support grassroots organizations, player-perspective storytelling and other special projects. Chaired by former NHL players Anson Carter and P.K. Subban, the NHL notes the coalition being formed in 2020, without mentioning the HDA, which was specifically referenced in a similar announcement made in September of that year.
NHL spokesman Brad Klein said the league would have no comment on the HDA statement. NHLPA spokesman Andrew Wolfe said the union also declined comment.
In accusing the NHL of having little to show for what its council has done since 2020, the HDA pointed to the inroads it has made by partnering with corporate sponsors to establish ball hockey and ice hockey programs in the Toronto area last year.
āFundamentally, I think we have a very, very strong structure and a foundation in place,ā HDA founder and Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri told AP. āWe did that without the league. I donāt think they necessarily wouldāve expected us to get to this trajectory by ourselves, but when you have a group of guys that are really passionate and really care about the cause, not necessarily just the media attention itās going to get, you can get to the next level and we can really impact the minority communities.ā
Aliu anticipated those programs ā in which equipment, coaching, transportation and meals are provided free of charge ā will soon expand across Canada and eventually into the U.S.
āNext year, weāre going to be supporting over a thousand kids playing between ice hockey and ball hockey. Weāre a multi-million operation and we donāt benefit one cent from any of the work we do,ā Aliu said.
Aliu, the HDA's chairman, was born in Nigeria and spent part of his childhood in Ukraine before eventually relocated to Toronto with his family.
Heās a former journeyman minor league player who appeared in seven NHL games, and in November 2019 revealed then-Flames coach Bill Peters bullied and directed racist slurs at him when the two were in the minors a decade earlier. Peters resigned days later, and Aliuās revelations led to the NHL instituting a personal conduct policy in a bid to eradicate racism in whatās traditionally been a white-dominated sport.
Aliu believes the rift between the HDA and NHL stems from HDA members being unafraid to speak out and challenge the league to action. Kadri expressed disappointment in the NHL and HDA not being able to work together but added he and his fellow current and former players remain committed to advancing their cause.
āWe thought that wouldāve been a great partnership and we wouldāve helped each other and taken this to the next level with something that we really cared about,ā Kadri said. āIt wouldāve been nice to kind of have their support. At the end of the day, we didnāt need it.ā
The HDA statement took aim at the NHL choosing autonomy over partnering with the HDA: "Metaphorically, owners first instinct is to own rather than be part of a team.ā
Aliu said the HDAās criticism is directed at the league and not toward inclusion coalition members.
āI truly hope they do good work this time around, but I am tired of hearing empty announcements and photo ops to check a box instead of actually doing the hard work,ā Aliu said. āMy only message is donāt allow yourselves to be used by the league because thatās really whatās going to stall our movement.ā
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.
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