Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane announced via Twitter that he is stepping away from the Hockey Diversity Alliance group, citing the fact “the HDA is now being led and influenced by members with individual agendas.”
“There has also been a combative approach with other organizations and groups that have embarked on similar goals. This is a method I do not support,” Kane said in his statement.
In response, the HDA released a statement of their own, refuting Kane’s statement and his involvement with the HDA dating back to 2021.
The HDA was launched in June 2020, with Kane and former NHLer Akim Aliu as co-heads, and Trevor Daley, Matt Dumba, Wayne Simmonds, Chris Stewart and Joel Ward rounding out the executive committee. Its stated goal was to promote diversity and eradicate racism in hockey.
“We are hopeful that anyone who puts on skates or sits in the stands will do so without worrying about race, gender or socioeconomic background and will be able to express their culture, identity, values and personality without fear of retribution,” Kane said at the time in a statement about the group’s formation.
Kane’s move comes two and a half weeks after the NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced the formation of the Player Inclusion Coalition — a 20-player committee of current and former players — and earmarked $1 million to support grassroots organizations, player-perspective storytelling and other special projects. The coalition is chaired by former NHL players Anson Carter and P.K. Subban.
The HDA tweeted out a statement on July 5 that was openly critical of the NHL/NHLPA Player Inclusion Coalition, referring to it as: “Laudable on its face, laughable in full context of the work we have been doing for three years without the league’s support. The NHL’s players coalition’s mission statement does not echo the HDA’s goals so much as cynically attempt to appropriate them.”
Afterward, both Aliu and Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri spoke to The Associated Press, lamenting the NHL and NHLPA failing to partner with the HDA.
“I truly hope they do good work this time around, but I am tired of hearing empty announcements and photo ops to check a box instead of actually doing the hard work,” Aliu said.
