NASHVILLE | Life was not easy for children of color who wanted to play hockey in the 1980s and 1990s. Georges Laraque knows something about that.
The little guy from Montreal who wanted to enjoy his passion on the rinks had to face his share of obstacles.
“I was called n*** every day at the arena. It was unbearable. My parents didn’t want me to play hockey anymore. They said it was a dangerous environment for a child. It shows how serious it was,” said Laraque.
Gifted with extraordinary strength of character, Laraque persevered to play 695 games in the NHL with the Oilers, Penguins, Coyotes and Canadiens. But that’s not the case for everyone. Several young people from minorities preferred to give up.
Photo archives, QMI Agency
Fortunately, hockey, like the rest of society, has made giant strides at this level. But there is still a long way to go. That’s why the NHL and its players’ association took advantage of draft week to launch the Players’ Coalition for Inclusion. The two entities contribute jointly by investing US$1 million in the organization.
Chaired by Anson Carter and PK Subban, the Coalition’s mandate is to set up events, create awareness campaigns and offer support to hockey players who are victims of racist or homophobic remarks.
“We created programs,” said Laraque, one of the 20 members of the Coalition. We provide awareness training for all rookies coming into the NHL. We have workshops for referees where we inform them on how to react to racist remarks.
Funny timing
However, the launch of this coalition comes at a very strange time. Last week, Gary Bettman announced that the NHL was ending its Pride nights where players had to wear rainbow-colored jerseys in support of the LGBTQ+ cause.
A decision that is the result of all the distractions caused by those who refused to wear it. Some invoked political motives, others religious motives.
“It is not because we stop the sweaters that we stop the movement, insisted Laraque. Some players were uncomfortable. When you create a program, the players must not feel that it is imposed on them.
Screenshot TVA Sports
Sometimes, however, as in the case of the Staal brothers, one wonders if the religious motive invoked was not a bit far-fetched. Especially since Eric, when he was playing for the Canadiens, had agreed to wear the jersey.
“I understand that these fights, it is not everyone who can deliver them, he continued. Everyone is free to think what they want. I don’t judge them. Whether we agree or not. If we say that hockey is for everyone, we must leave people free to choose.
And if a player refused to wear a similar jersey for an evening in honor of Black History Month, would he have the same thought?
“It’s not the same thing at all, hammered Laraque. No player could say they don’t put it on for religious reasons. What is religious, we cannot have an opinion on that.