Shark mulls if he should take a knee
San Jose Sharks forward Joel Ward said he might take a knee during the national anthem.
If Ward does so, he would be the first NHL player to join the protests that started in the NFL.
The protests have drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, who said at a rally in Alabama on Friday that NFL owners should fire players who protest during the national anthem.
Ward, 36, is one of 30 black players in the NHL. The Canadian was asked by the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News if he would consider kneeling during the anthem.
“It’s something I wouldn’t cross out,” Ward said. “I’ve experienced a lot of racism myself in hockey and on a day-to-day occurrence. I haven’t really sat down to think about it too much yet, but I definitely wouldn’t say no to it.”
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem in the preseason a year ago to make a statement about social inequality and police treatment of blacks in the United States. More than 200 players knelt or took other action during Sunday’s anthems in the wake of Trump’s comments.
Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to take a knee during the national anthem Saturday.
Sharks Coach Peter DeBoer said he would back Ward if he decides to take a knee this season. Ward said Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson also has been supportive.
San Jose opens the 2017-2018 season on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers.