After Pride jersey controversy, NHL launches Player Inclusion Coalition to create 'safe space' that is 'inclusive and diverse'

The NHL has launched a Player Inclusion Coalition to help create a "safe space" and educate about the importance of diversity and inclusion. The announcement comes just over a week after the league banned themed jerseys following backlash over Pride-themed uniforms.

Following up on an inclusion committee that was started in 2020 to address inclusion and diversity in the sport, the league is reportedly ready to advance from recommendations to action, according to the NHL.

The group will feature former and current players (male and female), executives, referees, and more. Those included will represent "all walks of life with people of color, women and those in the LBGTQ+ community," a senior producer for the New Jersey Devils hockey team said.

"The work has already started," said former NHL All-Star P.K. Subban. "We're very excited about the future, I know personally I am, to give my input and to help the game reach its highest potential," he added.

"And that's to reach a place where everyone feels welcome."

Subban had previously warned the hockey league about forcing activism, telling Reuters "We cannot push everyone to be an activist; we need to be very careful."

"I feel people pick and choose what they want to talk about, and I don't like it when we put the onus on athletes to be activists," he also said.

One of the most vocal activists in the league, Meghan Duggan, said she has been and will continue to be involved with the coalition. Duggan, the New Jersey Devils' director of player development, made headlines in 2021 when she was widely described as "believed to be the first openly gay person to work in hockey operations in the NHL."

"Our main focus has been around educating leaders in our space about the importance of diversity and inclusion, getting into locker rooms at the NHL level and educating the players," said Duggan.

Duggan was part of the 2020 group, and despite saying she and others were not "held back" due to their gender or sexual orientation, still called the work some of the most "meaningful" efforts she has ever partaken in.

"I'm proud to be a part of New Jersey. The Devils organization, hiring a gay woman to work in hockey operations, promoted someone like Kate Madigan to assistant general manager," she explained. "Because we've earned those positions. We weren't held back because of our gender or sexual orientation."

"This is some of the most substantial, meaningful work I do in my life," she said. "We started three years ago, just engaging in the conversations, taking action, getting out in the communities, educating leaders around the importance of these issues."

The coalition is co-chaired by the aforementioned Subban along with former NHL-er Anson Carter. The duo will be responsible for giving race-based suggestions for the league on behalf of players, duties the league described as providing "insights regarding equality and inclusivity from a player's perspective."

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