Matt Dumba | RMNB

Matt Dumba named King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner

Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba was named the King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Sunday. The trophy is awarded to the player who shows “leadership on and off the ice and who has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community.” Along with the trophy, Dumba will also receive $25,000 which he can donate to a charity of his choice.

Dumba, a co-founder of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, became the first NHL player to kneel during a hockey game. Dumba did so after making a powerful speech to protest police brutality and systemic racism.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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NHL postpones two days of playoff games due to police brutality and systemic racism after inaction the night before

The NHL postponed its playoff games on Thursday and Friday after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked outrage and Black Lives Matter protests across the country. Blake was shot seven times in the back by police in front of his own children.

Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks started a movement, and refused to play Game Five of its first-round series against the Orlando Magic due to the shooting. Soon after, the NBA postponed games between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. Other leagues followed hours later. Three WNBA games (including your Washington Mystics), five Major League Soccer games, and three Major Baseball games were called off in solidarity with the Bucks. Many NFL teams also canceled practices.

The NHL, which consists of only 29 active Black players according to Wikipedia, played its games as scheduled. The league made a course correction nearly 24 hours later, but according to the Hockey Diversity Alliance, the decision was sparked by several players still playing who reached out asking for advice on what to do.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin throws support behind Hockey Diversity Alliance in powerful HNIC opening

Alex Ovechkin was part of Hockey Night In Canada’s powerful opening last night.

The nearly four-minute intro, set to Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, put a spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement and the newly formed Hockey Diversity Alliance, whose goal is to eradicate systemic racism in the sport and change the face of hockey. The opener aired hours after Matt Dumba became the first player to kneel during the national anthem of the Blackhawks-Oilers game.

Former Capitals forward Joel Ward and Devante Smith-Pelly were also featured in the clip.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Matt Dumba becomes first NHL player to kneel during anthem

On Saturday afternoon, Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba became the first NHL player to kneel during the American national anthem.

Before the anthem, Dumba gave a powerful speech on systemic racism prior to the start of the Chicago Blackhawks-Edmonton Oilers game.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Joel Ward among seven Black NHLers on new Hockey Diversity Alliance: ‘Our mission is to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey’

Seven current and former Black NHL players, including recently retired former Capital Joel Ward, have formed the Hockey Diversity Alliance. The mission of the group is to “eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey” and “be a force for positive change not only within our game of hockey but also within society.”

The Hockey Diversity Alliance will work independently of the NHL but hopes to work closely with the league to achieve these goals.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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