Dumba first hockey player to kneel during anthem
Minnesota’s Matt Dumba became the first NHL player to kneel during the U.S. national anthem when he did so before the opening playoff game between the Oilers and Blackhawks in Edmonton, Alberta.
Dumba knelt at center ice on Saturday while fellow Black players Malcolm Subban of Chicago and Darnell Nurse of Edmonton each stood with a hand on one of his shoulders. Several teams this week stood together during the U.S. and Canadian anthems, with some players locking arms to show solidarity.
With the message “END RACISM” on the video screens around him, the Wild defenseman made a passionate speech about racial injustice on behalf of the league and the Hockey Diversity Alliance.
Dumba and a handful of other Black hockey players formed the organization in June in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in policy custody in Minnesota.
“Racism is everywhere, and we need to fight against it,” Dumba said. “We will fight against injustice and fight for what is right. I hope this inspires a new generation of hockey players and hockey fans because Black lives matter, Breonna Taylor’s life matters. Hockey is a great game, but it could be a whole lot greater, and it starts with all of us.”
Dumba wore a Hockey Diversity Alliance sweatshirt while making the speech and kneeling. Afterward, he received support from around the hockey community. BLACKHAWKS 6, OILERS 4 >> Rookie winger Dominik Kubalik scored two goals and added three assists, leading Chicago to a win over host Edmonton in the opener of their best-of-five qualifying round series on Saturday.
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews added two goals and one assist.
Connor Mcdavid had a goal and three assists for Edmonton.
HURRICANES 3, RANGERS 2 >> Sebastian Aho scored a goal and set up another in Carolina’s win over the New York Rangers in the NHL’S opening playoff game following a 4 1/2-month pause. Jaccob Slavin scored 61 seconds in on Carolina’s first shot on goal in helping the Hurricanes gain the edge in the best-of-five preliminary round series.
ISLANDERS 2, PANTHERS 1 >> Semyon Varlamov stopped 27 shots and New York opened the series with a victory over Florida. Anthony Beauvillier scored on a power play at 3:39 of the second period. The Islanders Jean-gabriel Pageau opened the scoring re-directing Derick Brassard’s pass 12 minutes into the game.