NHL and NHLPA launches Player Inclusion Coalition

[Tad Mikowsky]

NHL, NHLPA launch new player inclusion coalition

The coalition aims to make hockey “more accessible, more inclusive, and more diverse."

theathletic.com

The NHL and NHL Players Association’s new Player Inclusion Coalition hopes to make hockey “more accessible, more inclusive, and more diverse,” through grassroots programs, education initiatives and more, members Julie Chu and Mark Fraser said.

The members of the Player Inclusion Coalition include:

• Cam Atkinson
• Ethan Bear
• J.T. Brown
• Blake Bolden
• Madison Bowey
• Anson Carter
• Julie Chu
• Meghan Duggan
• Mark Fraser
• Chris Kreider
• Brigette Lacquette
• Georges Laraque
• Jamal Mayers
• Al Montoya
• Sarah Nurse
• Ryan Reaves
• Abby Roque
• Kevin Shattenkirk
• P.K. Subban
• Zach Whitecloud

Click to read more...

 

[Beerz]

Another worthless program.

 

[LPHabsFan]

Guess inclusion doesn't include special one off jerseys for warmups

 

[Jumptheshark]

Another worthless program.

Considering what the nhl did last week.

 

[Peasy]

The irony.

 

[Beerz]

Considering what the nhl did last week.

That shit is all worthless .. its a bunch of grandstanding.

If they really want to include more in the game they'd put their money where their mouth is and start putting rinks in inner cities and having an equipment program.. get on the ground and do the work instead of the bitching and moaning and frivolous "innovatives"

 

[MXD]

That shit is all worthless .. its a bunch of grandstanding.

If they really want to include more in the game they'd put their money where their mouth is and start putting rinks in inner cities and having an equipment program..

There's absolutely nothing in that release telling us that this is not what they want to do. I mean, "more accessible (...) through grassroots program" would involve such initiatives.

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

There's absolutely nothing in that release telling us that this is not what they want to do. I mean, "more accessible (...) through grassroots program" would involve such initiatives.

Sounds like it. His point was still valid though considering the post he was quoting.

 

[BlueSeal]

Most folks don’t play hockey to begin with and very few really seek a career in it, in the states. Couple that with simple demographic math and the numbers speak for themselves.

 

[Machinehead]

This is fine and dandy but they already caved on the Pride thing so I don't have the patience for it.

 

[Albatros]

I'm all for projects aiming to improve inclusion, but zero European representatives in a league that is more than a quarter European does look funny.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

The only word that matters is "accessible." The rest is posturing.

 

[one2gamble]

You can Play....hockey is for everyone and now inclusion

yet....

 

[Xerloris]

This is fine and dandy but they already caved on the Pride thing so I don't have the patience for it.

I don't see how not wearing a jersey is caving. They're still having the night. Not only that but now they'll actually sell the jerseys instead of only making like 20 and auctioning them. Probably ends up making more money and more fans get to have them.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Sounds like backtracking to me.

 

[Chips]

I don't see how not wearing a jersey is caving. They're still having the night. Not only that but now they'll actually sell the jerseys instead of only making like 20 and auctioning them. Probably ends up making more money and more fans get to have them.

It seems even more like “just a PR thing” when the players don’t participate


They could have just allowed a few players to not wear it and live with it, but they caved

 

[tarheelhockey]

Earlier this week, Fluto Shinzawa (a writer I respect) wrote an article for The Athletic on the struggles that top-rated prospect Will Smith’s family had to overcome on his path to the NHL Draft.

Here are some of the greatest hits:

“The family traveled regularly for Smith’s games: Connecticut for showdowns against Mid-Fairfield; Tampa, Fla., for Eagles tournaments; Waterloo, Quebec, for the annual peewee extravaganza.”

“Until the recent sale of his business, Bill Smith was a principal at Boyd/Smith, a Boston real estate firm that specializes in luxury housing and commercial properties. His father, who was also named Bill, founded the company. “

“The man with real estate in his blood, then, knew better than most that buying a house in Michigan would serve his family well.”

“The Smiths looked in Plymouth. Through a family connection, they learned of a five-bedroom house in Novi with a finished basement. The Smiths completed the transaction in 2021. “

““If you’re not cooking, you’re shopping for the food you’re going to cook,” Smith said. “It just continues. Then you think, ‘You just spent $500 at Costco and it’s gone in two days.’ You’re thinking, ‘Where did it go?'”

“Smith became a regular on Delta’s Boston-Detroit leg to attend Will’s games.”

“Colleen Smith and Childs found their rhythm, guided by the five-color-coded spreadsheet that mapped out everyone’s flights and house schedules.”

“The Smiths have since sold the Novi house. They bought a place in Harwich on Cape Cod. “



The fact that people inside the game see the story above and non-ironically think “wow, they really sacrificed for this” is a temperature check on the insane level of elitism and insulation in the hockey establishment.

I am all in favor of what this committee is trying to do. But if they want to make the game more inclusive and accesible for real, they need to start with the straightforward fact that hockey has become a game of 1%’ers buying promotion out from under kids of lesser means. Good vibes aren’t going to fix this, it’s systemically built into the business side of the game. Until that changes, all the “awareness initiatives” in the world won’t make a damn bit of difference.

 

[Neil Racki]

Another worthless program.

Caps did a youth one day program for kids in my neighborhood. Kids got free jerseys, free ice time, local youth hockey kids and adult coaches helped them w gear and skating around.

Watched my 7 year old tap tap tap a puck 29 times going a distance of 10 feet to score goal (no goalie). She then buckle knees skated to the glass where we were with a big smile on her face.

Good day for the fam on the ice.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Yes, systemically because everything about the game is f***ing expensive. The gear, the ice, the travel. It's why so many other sports are so much more popular. Most require a ball that everyone shares and that's it. There was no grand conspiracy to gatekeep the sport from not well off families.

Weird how the league was far more blue-collar in nature just 30 years ago, and now it’s not.

Gee whiz, I guess we should just accept this state of affairs uncritically and carry on. Must be “just the way things are” and not a thing that can be addressed in any way.

 

[Xerloris]

Weird how the league was far more blue-collar in nature just 30 years ago, and now it’s not.

Gee whiz, I guess we should just accept this state of affairs uncritically and carry on. Must be “just the way things are” and not a thing that can be addressed in any way.

You mean back when sticks were made of wood and goalie pads were stuffed with horse hair and made of old baseball mitt leather? Ya it's hard to imagine why shit was cheaper back then. I'm sure those 300$ sticks are a directive from Bettman to gatekeep the poor kids.

 

[PB37]

There was no boycotting. Not participating is not the same as boycotting. See how it's your way or no way? I never see that inclusiveness or acceptance one side preaches if it's not for them.

I don't see that, but I can see that you can't take a joke.

 

[Xerloris]

I don't see that, but I can see that you can't take a joke.

I normally can. When it comes to this type of topic though it's hard to know when someone is joking or not.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Take the hot takes to Twitter, folks. We still don't allow political statements here.

 

[westc2]

That shit is all worthless .. its a bunch of grandstanding.

If they really want to include more in the game they'd put their money where their mouth is and start putting rinks in inner cities and having an equipment program.. get on the ground and do the work instead of the bitching and moaning and frivolous "innovatives"

Why rinks in inner cities? I guarantee you if they put a rink in the inner city in St. Louis, it would be a run down, deserted building within 3 years.

If they want to increase the popularity of the sport, put more rinks in areas where people actually WANT to play hockey but can't play because ice time is so hard to get. This is what brings up the cost of hockey, ice time. Rinks are expensive to build and maintain.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

This is hypocritical nonsense. I believe the coalition members mean well, and I believe the NHL is taking advantage of that for PR. They don’t actually care. They’ll do whatever is profitable in the short term.