Hockey Diversity Alliance slams NHL/NHLPA announcement of Player Inclusion Coalition

[CantHaveTkachev]

"it was our idea first! and we deserve all the accolades and money that comes with that!"
-HDA

 

[hypereconomist]

The NHL doesn't want to work with the HDA. How are you supposed to address systems racism/bigotry in the NHL...if you're not allowed to identify it?

It's pretty transparent the NHL wants its own D&I initiative for PR purposes, that they can control (and not have to actually do anything).

I'm skeptical that the HDA is making a huge impact, but the NHL-sponsored version will certainly be useless.

You beat me to the punch. The HDA could have capitalized on the initial BLM momentum and done some neat stuff if they were backed by the NHL (with access to NHL resources).

Instead fans get an internal department three years later that is headed by some Caucasian guys from the NHL old boys club that will ultimately end up doing nothing.

Some real progressive thinking by the NHL on this one...


That's not to say that there isn't space for multiple diversity groups or that the HDA can't do stuff on their own, but resources (funds, people, branding, etc.) go a lot farther when you have a major partner like the NHL.

 

[BigEezyE22]

We can agree to disagree on this. Teams and the league work with many different orgs to address diversity and inclusion.

They just can't seem to work with this one group. It takes two to make a relationship work. Both parties could do a better job fostering a positive working relationship.

I remember when the HDA came to be with their list of "demands.". What a hoot.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It’s easy to mock these guys, and their approach invites mockery as it seems to be inflammatory at every turn.

That said… they’re kind of right about what they’re saying.

 

[Flybynite]

There can only be one diversity initiative.

Will with-hold judgement to see if this is a legit action by the NHL to actually lead to long-lasting improvement and engagement with the minority community and growing hockey, or just another ham-fisted virtue signaling attempt.

 

[Viqsi]

It’s easy to mock these guys, and their approach invites mockery as it seems to be inflammatory at every turn.

That said… they’re kind of right about what they’re saying.

Kind of. I think they're asserting as truth that which is predicted, and while I think their predictions are likely accurate, that's still kind of a dick move and doesn't help.

 

[abo9]

Instead fans get an internal department three years later that is headed by some Caucasian guys from the NHL old boys club that will ultimately end up doing nothing.

I don't have a horse in the race, but It seems to be chaired by PK Subban and Anson Carter.

They might nowadays be part of the NHL old boys club, but caucasian?

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-player-inclusion-coalition-launch-1.6889937

Fwiw, they've donated $10 000 to the CORE program ("a program presented by Bridgestone that introduces hockey to new players of all backgrounds ages 4-9 at no costs"):

NHL, NHLPA announce creation of Player Inclusion Coalition | NHL.com

Aims to advance equality, inclusivity at various levels of hockey on, off ice

www.nhl.com

And from the same article,
"All 32 NHL clubs hosted Pride events this season, helping raise more than $1.1 million in June from auctioned items, the sale of rainbow-colored Pride tape, 50-50 raffles and donations."

"In addition, the You Can Play Project, which works to ensure the safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches and fans, received more than $145,000 in donations from NHL Clubs."


The league has the means (ie. money, fame) to do a lot of good in the community. Perhaps instead of condemning this initiative from the get-go, it would be nice to see what they have up their sleeves and call them out later if "nothing is done"

 

[tarheelhockey]

Kind of. I think they're asserting as truth that which is predicted, and while I think their predictions are likely accurate, that's still kind of a dick move and doesn't help.

While I agree, a statement of this nature puts a clear spotlight on the NHL/NHLPA to actually do something meaningful.

Too often, these kinds of “initiatives” are hyped up by the marketing department until they become an inconvenient budget item. If they’re going to roll out something like this, it’s fair game to hold them accountable to actually doing something substantial. HDA is taking action to create that accountability, in their own uniquely dickish way.

 

[Statto]

It’s pretty easy to get into a PR mess with this topic, so I understand why the NHL wants to have full control over the message and not just a partner.

To allow them to sweep stuff under the carpet and pretend all is good.

 

[joestevens29]

To allow them to sweep stuff under the carpet and pretend all is good.

I don't know if it's really a group that is sweeping anything under the carpet. I think we will still see issues come up, but this group seems more about awareness and preventing issues going forward. Not to be the go to group when something does happen.

 

[Hockeylife2018]

I always got the feeling from day 1 that the NHL didn't like those running HDA

So they created one that they will put money into

Seems like a win win for everyone but HDA

Oh well

 

[Cotton]

To allow them to sweep stuff under the carpet and pretend all is good.

All is good. That's the problem, nobody can grift when everything is good, we need things to be upset about, things to call racist, then these groups can grift and attempt to coerce change towards their own values.


And nobody was ever excluded from this game, we had women leagues and different ethnic teams in the 1800's. We had Metis is the NHL in the 1920's, asian and Native and black players in the super-duper racist 1950's. One of the most beloved players of the past 20 years was a black guy named Jerome, who by his own admission had never faced an iota of prejudice in hockey, either growing up or in the pros. Hockey has never excluded, if you want it, it's there for you. If there are individuals in the game that are problematic than the problem is with the individual, not the game, and fans don't want to be coerced or shamed into accepting a BS notion that this game, which to Canadians mind you is a part of our culture, needs fixing - especially by those with an agenda and a script.

 

[Tob]

not very diverse and inclusive of them

 

[Love]

The HDA is a f***ing joke

 

[Voight]

Honestly all the HDA seems to do is cause problems and release statements when they disagree with something.

Have they even done anything on their own yet? Doesn't help that they have two pretty polarizing guys in Aliu & Kane running things. I was always curious why Iggy and PK didn't join or lend their support - they're easily the two most famous players of colour and in Iggy case he was always a very respected player during his time.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

“Give us money that we can use improperly and for ourselves!”

Ultimately this is what it is all about. Aliu in particular is mad he doesn't have a gravy train ala BLM.

 

[2014nyr]

you couldn't invent this comedy

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Things will evolve spontaneously with, in particular, the emergence of Asian-American and Hispano-American players from recent immigration. In the Brick Invitational, we see a lot of them.

Just people looking to get high-paying bullshit jobs.

The speech does not take into account a reality: the NHL is a world sports league and not strictly the North American civil society. If the players who win on the ice are Swedes, Czechs or Russians, that's how it is.

These are virtually invisible in organizations. Kekalainen is the only European to be G.M.

The absence of women on the ice is an evidence of nature.

I am afraid that NHL will be forced in a few years to follow the same path as SA Rugby : to apply racist and discriminatory policies in the name of the fight against discrimination.

The double standard with the NBA and the NFL, which are increasingly homogeneous leagues around a minority, and who are presented as examples of diversity is inconsistent too.

As long as it's not straight, white male heavy we're good.

Honestly all the HDA seems to do is cause problems and release statements when they disagree with something.

Have they even done anything on their own yet? Doesn't help that they have two pretty polarizing guys in Aliu & Kane running things. I was always curious why Iggy and PK didn't join or lend their support - they're easily the two most famous players of colour and in Iggy case he was always a very respected player during his time.

A solid citizen like Iginla isn't going to team up with a grifter like Aliu.

 

[FiveFourteenSixOne]

The purity wars of intersectionality.

I'm sure a sticking point is that nothing is ever good enough for activists whose job is dependent on nothing ever being good enough. Does anyone think the HDA gives one flying who knows what about the NHL or hockey as a whole?

Isn't the HDA just Akim Aliu's new grift where he blames everyone but himself for not being good enough to make it in the NHL?

 

[Voight]

As long as it's not straight, white male heavy we're good.


A solid citizen like Iginla isn't going to team up with a grifter like Aliu.

Of course not. Which Is why the HDA will never accomplish anything.

Aliu can say racism is why he didn't stick in the NHL but thats not why. He simply wasn't good enough. He just loves to play identity politics and point fingers at everyone else.

 

[Chips]

sounds like "you should be paying us not them" sour grapes to me but who knows

I’ll give the NHL a chance, but that might be a valid complaint if they’re convinced the same value of money to them might produce more tangible results than if it does to the NHL


eg would the league put 100% of any money raised into youth programs, or would some of that money go to funding their already existing PR “we support diversity” ads so they don’t have to fund it with money raised from their games.


I have no idea how any of it works but the group may be genuinely distrustful of the league whether they end up being right or wrong


People here always tend to assume the absolute most cynical possibility. We criticize the league for virtue signaling, and now criticize an org for criticizing the league for virtue signaling. The NHL exists as a for profit org, whereas the other org exists for this purpose.

 

[mriswith]

No better way than to announce it's purely about the money than to declare that, in the name of diversity and inclusion, there can only be one and everything else must be destroyed or disbanded.

 

[JackSlater]

Who'd have thought things wouldn't work out given the HDA's extremely reasonable list of demands from almost the moment it existed and its completely professional behaviour since. A shocking turn of events.

 

[Zach716]

Isn't the HDA just Akim Aliu's new grift where he blames everyone but himself for not being good enough to make it in the NHL?

Correct, which the league is surely aware of and thus here we are.

 

[Albatros]

The purity wars of intersectionality.

I'm sure a sticking point is that nothing is ever good enough for activists whose job is dependent on nothing ever being good enough. Does anyone think the HDA gives one flying who knows what about the NHL or hockey as a whole?

I'm rather certain that not one single NHL team has "GOOD ENOUGH" written on their locker room wall.