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Hockey reacts to the death of George Floyd

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 31: Police confront protesters in Manhattan on May 31, 2020 in New York City. Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on George Floyd's neck who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Floyd's death, the most recent in a series of deaths of black Americans while in police custody, has set off days and nights of protests across the country. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 31: Police confront protesters in Manhattan on May 31, 2020 in New York City. Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on George Floyd's neck who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Floyd's death, the most recent in a series of deaths of black Americans while in police custody, has set off days and nights of protests across the country. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) /
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The hockey community has voiced opinions about the current crisis in the United States.  We haven’t heard much from the New York Rangers.

As the world watches the United States reeling from days of protest and violence, many in the hockey world have raised their voices.  The New York Rangers haven’t done anything yet.

It took a while, but the NHL put out a message about the what is happening in the United States following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week.  The league tweeted late Sunday night.

The NHL’s message joined those sent by the Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Wild were the first team to react, three days after Floyd’s death and two days after the first protests.

The Sharks were the first team after the Wild to make a statement on May 29 with the rest coming on Sunday.

Even the Seattle NHL franchise, a team that doesn’t have a name yet, posted a message.


It’s curious that with massive protests in New York City, that the Rangers have yet to make any kind of statement.

Players speak out

One of the first NHL players to raise the issue was Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets who is a native of Minneapolis.  He tweeted out the following on Saturday after a night of violence and looting in his hometown.

African American NHL players have been very vocal with J.T. Brown and Evander Kane leading the way.  More recently, P.K. and Malcolm Subban, Anthony Duclair and Kevin Weekes have raised their voices along with numerous other NHL players.

Brown was with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017 when he became the only NHL player to raise a fist during the playing of the national anthem in support of Colin Kaepernick.  Brown tweeted the following:

Evander Kane has been very vocal about racism and how it exists in hockey.  He responded immediately to FLoyd’s death.

Kane has been very vocal in his support of Akim Aliu who was subjected to racist language by his AHL coach Bill Peters.  Peters later resigned as coach of the Calgary Flames.

It’s not just the black players who are speaking out.

And Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs wrote about his Latino-American heritage.

The Ranger players

While the organization hasn’t made any formal statement, some Rangers players have.

Anthony DeAngelo retweeted a message from former Blueshirt Kevin Weekes.

Prospect Ty Ronning tweeted in support of George Floyd.

Former Ranger Anthony Duclair also tweeted a positive message.

The organization

There is no mandate for a sports team or an athlete to make statements like these. However, cars are burning and highways are shut down in New York City, fires are burning out of control a block from the White House and many major American cities have imposed curfews.  As role models and representatives of our community, teams and athletes should speak out at times like these.

If you go to the official New York Rangers Twitter feed you will find a profile of Libor Hajek, a “name the most pizza toppings” contest and a clip from David Quinn’s new show, but not a peep about the situation that is dominating the conversation throughout this country.  We normally keep to the topic of hockey here at Blue Line Station, but this is a story that rises above all sports.  New York Rangers, we are waiting.

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