The Hockey Diversity Alliance will "'operate separate and independent of the NHL' after months of negotiations with the league," according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com. The organization in a statement yesterday said, "The Hockey Diversity Alliance is grateful for the support from the public we received. Unfortunately, the support we hoped to receive from the NHL was not delivered and instead the NHL focused on performative public relations efforts that seemed aimed at quickly moving past important conversations about race needed in the game." The HDA continued, "We have waited many months for a response to the common sense HDA pledge we proposed, and it is clear that the NHL is not prepared to make any measurable commitments to end systemic racism in hockey." The HDA is composed of nine current and former NHL players of color (ESPN.com, 10/7). The HDA had a list of "concrete steps it wanted the NHL to take," including a "commitment to fund grassroots programs for minorities, funding for impactful social justice initiatives, anti-racism education, targets for promoting Black individuals and businesses, and rule changes to make the culture of the game more inclusive" (CP, 10/7). In DC, Prince Grimes noted the announcement comes "a day after Quinton Byfield was selected second overall" by the Kings in the NHL Draft, the "highest a Black player has ever been picked" (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 10/7).
