The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning players said they didn’t find out about the postponement of games by the NBA and other sports leagues until they got to the rink on Wednesday night. At this point, they did not have enough time to discuss the following suit.
“It was so close to our game that we were just getting ready,” said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. “After the pre-game meal we took a nap and then we were on the bus, so I don’t think either of us watched TV until we got to the rink. At that point it was obviously too close to the game to To start discussions or to try to move the games to other dates. We basically followed the schedule that the NHL gave us. “
However, Chara spoke out on behalf of his counterparts in other sports who sought to expose themselves in protest against the ongoing racial injustices, including the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. The games were postponed on Wednesday in the NBA, WNBA, MLS and MLB.
“We support the fight against racism and injustice,” said Chara. “There are several ways to express this struggle. NBA players have expressed their opinion by boycotting the games today. We support NBA players and all the leagues that have shown this support.”
The NHL has been criticized by two prominent players from the recently formed Hockey Diversity Alliance, including Sharks winger Evander Kane, who said the league’s “lack of action” was “incredibly offensive”.
In fact, it’s incredibly offensive as a black man in hockey because of the lack of action and recognition from that @nhl, just offensive. https://t.co/1KrpUvFhaQ
– Evander Kane (@ evanderkane_9) August 27, 2020
Meanwhile, Wild defender Matt Dumba said during an appearance on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, British Columbia that the NHL “is always late to party on these issues.”
“It’s kind of sad and disheartening for me and the members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance – and I’m sure there are other players across the league,” said Dumba. “But if no one gets up and does anything, it’s the same: this silence. You’re out there looking at how to actually be a leader and make real change when you get the chance.”
Bruin’s manager Bruce Cassidy said he would have been “100 percent behind his players” if they had decided to sit out on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay players also said they didn’t have serious conversations about boycotting the Wednesday game because they learned about the NBA boycotts near the puck drop.
“I think the world has changed in that short time we’ve been on the rink,” said Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay coach. “When I got here at 4:30 am, I think what happens now at 11:15 am is a lot different than what happened at 4:30 am. At the time … they weren’t Things discussed with our group. We were preparing for the Boston Bruins. “
Before Game 3 of the second round of the Bruins and Lightning, which the Lightning won 7-1, the NHL had a “moment of reflection” with the words “End Racism” appearing on the video board. However, the NHL did not host a similar pre-game ceremony for their second game of the night, the Colorado Avalanche v Dallas Stars match in the Edmonton, Alberta bubble.
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