Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid released a statement Wednesday condemning racism and vowing to educate himself and initiate societal change in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody.
"Like everyone else, I watched the horror of George Floyd's murder and felt helpless and sick to my stomach," McDavid said. "And as I have watched the many protests against racism and social injustice that have been taking place around the world, I realize that I need to do more to educate myself ... that I need to learn more about the history of racism in our countries and to listen to the voices and the perspectives of the black community and other racial minorities to try and understand how I can help to affect positive change going forward.
"As a young white male and pro athlete, I recognize that we live a very privileged life. I believe that the time is now for all of us to get out of our comfort zones, to not sit idly on the sidelines, and to be part of the solution to ensure we end racism in our society."
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed on the ground.
McDavid is the latest NHL star to speak out against racial injustice amid nationwide protests over the killing of Floyd. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also released a statement Wednesday, saying what happened to Floyd "cannot be ignored."
Boston Bruins star Patrice Bergeron released his statement through the team's Twitter account, offering to educate himself while pledging to donate to two separate initiatives.
Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher also released a statement shortly before his captain did, condemning "bad police officers and ... the systems that allow them to continue to wear a badge," as well as looters who are "stealing the headlines."
Former NHL goaltender Ben Scrivens, who's currently working on his master's degree in social work, questioned why this many NHL players didn't speak out after the Bill Peters firing saga, K'Andre Miller's zoom call, or Akim Aliu's Players' Tribune article.
"What does 'change the game' mean?" the New Jersey Devils defenseman said Wednesday, referring to the phrase on his hat. "'Change the game' means 'change the narrative.' The narrative has been the same. No justice. There needs to be justice.
"Justice has to happen, change needs to come, but we need everyone ... to look at our lives and see where we can help that change and do our part. I'm committed to that - I'm committed to that through and through."
Subban also said he's donated $50,000 to the GoFundMe campaign created to assist Gianna Floyd - the six-year-old daughter of the late George Floyd - and revealed the NHL subsequently matched that amount.
The campaign has raised more than $800,000 of its $1-million goal.
Subban joined a growing number of NHLers and other athletes who are making their voices heard following the death of the elder Floyd. Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, died in police custody on May 25 after a white officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes while holding him on the ground in handcuffs.
Floyd's death has sparked protests in many U.S. cities, as well as in Subban's hometown of Toronto.
Braden Holtby strongly condemned anti-black racism in a powerful message Wednesday.
The Washington Capitals goaltender opened his statement on Twitter by pointing out that a local landmark, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, is named after a former U.S. president who enacted racist policies.
Holtby referred to the bridge as "monstrous" and called Wilson "an outspoken white supremacist."
"The bridge sits there mocking every black person who has to travel across it while reading that name as a reminder of how much pain has been inflicted on their race," he wrote.
Holtby then denounced systemic racism and racial injustice as a whole.
"The injustice and hatred-infused power we've seen recently is anything but new," he wrote. "To say there have been improvements is very naive. In today's age of information and communication at our fingertips, the change is far too minimal.
"The amount of inhumane, hate-based, racial crimes that have been committed in the centuries of American history is enough to make your skin crawl in discomfort and your eyes well with tears. Yet it's still happening. In 2020. It should never happen. Yet it still is."
The Capitals netminder also offered words of encouragement for protesters and closed by rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign slogan while affirming his own support for the black community.
"For everyone standing up and marching for what is right, your voices are not going unheard," Holtby wrote. "You're bringing pride to every person who believes in the universal value of a human being. Keep fighting, and I vow to demonstrate and educate what you are fighting for. Not only to myself but my children, family, and anyone else who will listen. Because America will never be great until all BLACK lives matter."
Holtby is Canadian but has spent his entire 10-year career with the Capitals. He declined an invitation to the White House last year, saying, "I've got to stay true to my values."
Numerous players and teams have issued statements over the past week following the killing of George Floyd. Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, died in police custody after Derek Chauvin, a white officer, kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes while holding Floyd in handcuffs on the ground.
Floyd's death has sparked protests across the United States.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport has issued a lifetime ban to former Chicago-area youth coach Tom "Chico" Adrahtas following its investigation into sexual abuse allegations against him, according to The Athletic's Katie Strang.
Adrahtas is prohibited from coaching in any USA Hockey-sanctioned event or any activity that involves a national governing body under the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic committee's purview.
In a Feb. 21 article in The Athletic, multiple former players said Adrahtas sexually abused them.
The SafeSport investigation into Adrahtas found that he "engaged in a pattern of exploitative and abusive sexual misconduct with multiple young athletes he coached, egregiously abusing a position of authority to manipulate and deceive young male athletes he mentored and coached, for sexual purposes." It also states that evidence "overwhelmingly" reveals that Adrahtas exploited at least six other athletes in addition to the three interviewed by SafeSport officials.
USA Hockey president Jim Smith remains under investigation for his handling of the allegations. Smith is accused of turning a blind eye to the allegations against Adrahtas during his time with the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), which included a stint as president from 1985-88.
For years, AHAI officials refused to nominate Adrahtas into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame because of "innuendo and rumor" about abuse. However, in 2010, Mike Mullally, who was the association's president at the time, said a group that included Smith decided to "put him through anyway." Adrahtas took himself out of consideration after Mullally confronted him about allegations from a former player.
USA Hockey was not officially informed of his admission to the Hall of Fame because Smith and Tony Rossi - who were both Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame committee members - were high-ranking members of USA Hockey at the time and already aware of the situation, Mullally said.
Adrahtas also coached at Robert Morris University - which is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) - for 10 years from 2008 to 2018. Adrahtas abruptly resigned after SafeSport's investigation began in 2018 following former junior player Mike Sacks' letter to the ACHA detailing sexual abuse by Adrahtas over a 20-month span when he was a teenager.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport was established in 2017 following the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, during which former doctor Larry Nassar was accused of assaulting over 250 young women and girls.
Sidney Crosby has joined the growing number of NHL players speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality.
"What happened to George Floyd cannot be ignored," the Pittsburgh Penguins captain wrote in a statement from his foundation Wednesday. "Racism that exists today in all forms is not acceptable. While I am not able to relate to the discrimination that black and minority communities face daily, I will listen and educate myself on how I can help make a difference.
"Together, we will find solutions through necessary dialogue and a collective effort."
Crosby is the latest player to offer thoughts in the wake of Floyd's death in police custody, which has led to protests throughout the United States.
San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, who's black, called last week forwhite athletes "like Tom Brady and Sidney Crosby" to make their voices heard about "what is right, and clearly in this case, what is unbelievably wrong."
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed on the ground.
A multitude of athletes and the majority of North America's pro sports teams have since issued statements condemning systemic racism and inequality.
With 16 teams now set to compete for the final eight postseason spots during the play-in round if the 2019-20 NHL campaign resumes this summer, some clubs will surely be leaning on a netminder to help secure a playoff berth.
Let's take a look at five goalies who can steal a play-in series.
Connor Hellebuyck
Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / Getty
The Winnipeg Jets' success this season started and ended with Hellebuyck. He was the team's backbone, carrying the Jets and keeping them in games, all while playing behind a decrepit defense and an injury-riddled squad.
He started the second-most games and finished second in wins. Hellebuyck also put together a 31-21-5 record alongside a .922 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average. He did that while facing the league's most shots (1,796) and high-danger shots (509).
The Jets only took on their play-in series opponent, the Calgary Flames, once this season, winning 2-1 in overtime. Hellebuyck shined, turning away 29 of 30 shots. After a hectic season, he would enter the play-in series following a ton of rest, and with a healthy team in front of him.
Pegged as a Vezina Trophy favorite this season, the 27-year-old can absolutely help steer the Jets past Calgary and into the playoffs.
Carey Price
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The unfair advantage the Montreal Canadiens could hold during a short play-in series with Price in net led to plenty of debate. Players have made their fear of Price clear, and they ultimately know best.
While he shows flashes of his former brilliance, Price's play this season was far from what's expected of him. Montreal has worked him hard, with Price leading the league in starts (58), and he's managed a mediocre 27-25-6 record, along with a .909 save percentage and a 2.79 goals-against average. He also trailed only Hellebuyck in shots faced (1,755) and high-danger shots against (469).
Similar to the Jets, the Canadiens will only succeed in their play-in series and take down the Pittsburgh Penguins if Price is in top form.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / Getty
Coming into the 2019-20 season, expectations were sky-high for Bobrovsky. He inked a monster seven-year, $70-million contract with the Florida Panthers, and the Russian was seen as the team's missing piece to become a contender. Things didn't go as planned in the Sunshine State, and Bobrovsky failed to find his footing from the get-go.
Entering the season as the league's second-highest-paid goalie, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner posted one of his worst career campaigns, going 23-19-6 with a .900 save percentage and 3.23 goals-against average. Shifting to a new team isn't always easy, and he may have just needed time to settle.
The Panthers dropped all three of their contests this season against the New York Islanders, their play-in series opponent, but fingers can't be pointed at the goaltending. Bobrovsky started two of the three games, logging solid performances while stopping 34 of 36 shots in one outing, and 27 of 29 in the other.
Jacob Markstrom
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Markstrom was enjoying a career-best season for the Vancouver Canucks before getting injured in late February. With time on his side to fully recover and not rush back, Markstrom will look to pick up where he left off if the Canucks-Wild play-in series goes ahead.
The 30-year-old appeared in 43 games this campaign, compiling a 23-16-4 record and a .918 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average. Before his injury, which would have sidelined him for most of what remained of the season, Markstrom's name was floating around in Vezina talks. He furthered his candidacy with a monster 49-save shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 12.
Markstrom faced the Wild three times this season, and he recorded only one good performance, allowing four goals on 37 shots in one loss, and three goals on 28 shots in the other defeat. He stopped 23 of 24 shots in the win.
The Canucks ranked fourth in the league in shots against per game (33.3), and if their defense can't suppress the Wild's offense, Markstrom will need to step up to the plate.
Elvis Merzlikins
Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / Getty
It's not entirely clear how the Blue Jackets will approach their goaltending situation for the team's potential play-in series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Joonas Korpisalo could get the nod over Merzlikins to kick things off, or the two might split starts. However, Merzlikins put together a great rookie season, and he should be the go-to guy for the time being.
Merzlikins dropped the first eight contests he appeared in this season, but then he excelled when Korpisalo suffered an injury, and the Latvian netminder became the club's undisputed starter. At one point he went on an eight-game win streak, which included five shutouts. He produced a 13-9-8 record, with a .923 save percentage and 2.35 goals-against average in 33 games.
The 26-year-old has yet to face the Leafs in his career, but Merzlikins showed this season he can catch fire at any moment. He'll get the opportunity to continue his impressive rookie season, and will need to bring his A-game against a potent Toronto offense.
