Showing posts with label Tampa bay Lightning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tampa bay Lightning. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Tampa Bay Lightning start three Black forwards for regular-season finale

The Tampa Bay Lightning started three Black forwards in their regular-season finale against the Florida Panthers on Monday night, a rarity in NHL history. Daniel Walcott, Mathieu Joseph and Gemel Smith were out together for the opening face-off didn’t know that they would start together just minutes before the match time.

This is a special moment when you consider that only approximately 3% of NHL players are Black. The NHL and its teams have recently stepped up efforts to increase diversity within the sport through various feeder programs, some of which are funded by the league.

“First of all, they’re all in the NHL for a reason,” said Tampa Bay coach John Cooper. “They deserve to be here and have their tails shaved. They were a little better off to bring them all together. By advancing in the league, it’s no longer a story, it’s a standard. Hope it’s a cool moment for all those who were pretty."

“It was great, man,” said Joseph. “One step in the right direction. It was fun to make progress, it was great to see and it was nice to be able to participate …. The color players in this league want to show to their families and others. I’m in color. Thanks to the coaching staff for doing this. “

Walcott said young black kids interested in hockey want to see something like Monday night and find hope. He was informed by Cooper that he was likely to make his debut on Sunday night, but said he wasn’t told who his linemates were in the game.

“It’s been a while since the whirlwind of emotions,” Walcott said. “It was great to get into that starting lineup …. Corp did something really special here and advertised this for young children.”

Sunday, October 08, 2017

National Hockey League player J.T. Brown raises fist during national anthem

Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown raised his right fist during the playing of the national anthem before the team's first road game of the season.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown says he isn't going to back down anytime soon, standing behind his decision to fund the relocation of a Confederate statue in Tampa and stay vocal when it comes to issues concerning minorities.

It is the first known demonstration of any kind during the anthem in an NHL regular-season game. The NHL has no rules governing what players must do during the national anthem.

Brown, who was scratched for Tampa Bay's season-opening win against Florida, remained standing throughout the anthem Saturday night. Brown, one of approximately 30 black players in the NHL, used the same protest before a preseason game against the Panthers last month.

"I wanted to do something to show my support," Brown told the Tampa Bay Times after the Lightning's 5-4 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday. "There are some issues that we have to talk about. So, in my mind, just trying to bring a little more awareness, and any type of conversation that we can get started would be great. I know there's going to be negative backlash. But, in my heart, I know I did what was right."

The Lightning issued a statement later Saturday, saying, "The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate the moment before every game when we can unite as a community, paying homage to a flag that is representative of our nation and those who have sacrificed. At the same time, we respect our players and individual choices they may make on social and political issues."

[SOURCE: ESPN]