The announcement made at Ford Ice Center Bellevue included a sizable donation to the Nashville Predators CORE program.
The announcement made at Ford Ice Center Bellevue included a sizable donation to the Nashville Predators CORE program.
Yesterday NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the launch of the NHL Players Inclusion Coalition at Ford Ice Center in Bellevue. The PIC is a group of current or former professional NHL and women's hockey players working to advance equality and inclusion through the game of hockey on and off the ice. The Coalition was first formed in 2020 and was called the Player Inclusion Committee. Yesterday's announcement of the newly named PIC highlighted the group's commitment to action.
Anson Carter, co-chair of the NHL Player Inclusion Committee with former Nashville Predator P.K. Subban, shared the evolution from ideas to opportunities since the group began three years ago.
The NHL Player Inclusion Coalition brings together players with a wide variety of lived experience and backgrounds including players of color, LGBTQ+, and allies. The diversity of the Coalition provides valuable insight into how to move the sport forward while still have one uniting belief among all members when it comes to influencing the hockey community.
"I want to highlight the belief that is something that unites every member of this coalition," Carter said. "We want to believe that inclusive environments make it stronger and better for everyone."
"We accelerate the quality in our game and engage diverse social groups and speak about social movements that shape players' experiences on and off the ice. We're helping hockey become the best possible version of itself."
The NHL and NHLPA earmarked $1 million dollars to support the Coalition's work. Yesterday the Nashville Predators' CORE program was a beneficiary of the PIC's mission receiving a $10,000 check to help grow the program's work and outreach in Nashville. The CORE program (Creating Opportunities for Racial Equality) introduces new players from all backgrounds ages 4-9 to the game of hockey at no cost. The program provides a full set of equipment and 8 weeks of on ice instruction to participants but also focuses on building community and relationship by providing dinner after each practice. CORE also pays for its participants to enroll in youth hockey programs for three years at no cost.
Not only did the Coalition make a donation, they also had a chance to join an on ice session and talk with families and players involved in the program on Tuesday. The panel which included Carter, NHL players Ryan Reaves and Zach Whitecloud and women's hockey stars Julie Chu and Sarah Nurse, shared some of their personal challenges in hockey and provided the CORE's young players with advice and encouragement.
There were also lighthearted questions for the panel as well.
The NHL Player Inclusion Coalition will continue its important work speaking up and supporting programs to promote inclusivity in the hockey community. More information on the work of the Player inclusion Coalition and the full list of members can be found here.
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