A group of seven current and former black NHL players have officially launched efforts to help lead meaningful and required change within the hockey community.
In an announcement months in the making, Evander Kane and Akim Aliu were named co-heads of the newly-formed Hockey Diversity Alliance, which stated one clear mission with its press release on Monday: to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey.
Also included on the executive committee are active players Matt Dumba, Wayne Simmonds, Trevor Daley and Chris Stewart, along with former NHLer Joel Ward.
The Hockey Diversity Alliance will operate independent from the NHL, but with the goal to work “productively” with the league in order to lead change.