The African-American athlete is often ignored when discussing issues in the world of professional hockey. The Shadow League has referenced hockeys racial, generational and cultural divide when discussing the sport in the past. There are some talented brothers in the NHL (on the low), but their are no Black heroes. No Colin Kaepernick or LeBron James.
Sharks winger Joel Ward might be the first one. Ward, an African-American NHL player who has received death threats and endured disparaging racial attacks from hockey fans in the past, said that “he may kneel in protest during the national anthem.”
In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Ward said he may be inspired to do so considering his experience as one of hockeys relatively few black players.
SB Nation on Twitter
NHL forward Joel Ward says he hasn’t ruled out taking a knee to protest inequality.
Ive experienced a lot of racism myself in hockey and on a day-to-day occurrence. I havent really sat down to think about it too much yet, but I definitely wouldnt say no to (taking a knee) , he told Paul Gackle of the Mercury News.
Ward is one of about 30 black players in the NHL, according to deadspin.com. No hockey player has kneeled for the anthem or contemplated the idea until now.
In the past, social issues that affected people of color wouldnt necessarily move the needle at all in the hockey world as the majority of the fans and players have always been white. However, the NHLs African-American population is growing and guys like Jarome Iginla and P.K. Subban are high profile names within the sport. They can’t help but get inspired by the actions of their fellow athletes in other sports.
Black NHL Player Joel Ward: ‘Hockey Is For Everybody’
The WSJ’s Lee Hawkins talks to Washington Capitals winger Joel Ward about his ongoing effort to encourage more black youths to play hockey and a series of racist tweets sent out by some angry Boston Bruins fan after Ward scored a game-winning goal in overtime to knock the Bruins out of the race for the playoffs.
Ward seems to understand what Colin Kaepernick’s silent protest was about and he’s in tune with why athletes across the sports landscape have chosen to join Kap in taking a knee in opposition of racial injustice.
Its just been part of life that you always have to deal with, Ward said of racism. So when people get into Kaepernick and some of these other guys, saying that theyre disrespecting the flag, its not about just that. Its about creating awareness about what people, like myself, go through on a day-to-day basis.
USA TODAY Sports on Twitter
San Jose Sharks’ Joel Ward on protests during the anthem: “… I definitely wouldn’t say no to it.” https://t.co/YvrY3QKqC8
The table is set for Ward, who wears No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, to take his knee whenever the spirit arises. He has the full support of his head coach Pete DeBoer and general manager Doug Wilson.
DeBoer says he and Wilson are big freedom of speech guys who will be supportive of any player choosing to express themselves by kneeling during the national anthem. The publicity wouldnt hurt the NHL either. They need to get in on this all-media exploitation of Colin Kaepernick’s original protest. Might even gain some African-American viewers in the process.
Its all up to Ward and whether or not he chooses to plunge himself into the headlines and put hockey in the path of President Trumps Twitter rage.
