From The Hockey News’ 2023 Money & Power Edition:

‘Agents of Change - Moving Things Forward’ - pg. 74

By Ian Kennedy

The need for social change in hockey has never been more apparent than it has been over the past year. A public reckoning has occurred related to hockey's culture and its associated issues of racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual violence. The need to create safer spaces - free from abuse and harm - has never been greater. For the past two years, The Hockey News' Money and Power issue has highlighted 20 change-makers in the game. And this year is no different. Social leaders previously highlighted, such as R. Renee Hess, Brock McGillis, Dr. Courtney Szto, Akim Aliu, Sheldon Kennedy and Dr. Cheryl MacDonald, unquestionably continue to create a safer, more inclusive and equitable sport for all. But this list will highlight 20 new names you may not previously have heard. Meet these 20 activists, advocates, allies and organizers who create space, break barriers and spur social change in hockey.

Moezine Hasham - Hockey 4 Youth Founder

Through his organization, which aims "to increase social inclusion for new Canadian and high-priority youth through our free ice hockey and off-ice life skills" programs, Hasham is directly impacting young people. The off-ice programming, known as "T.E.A.C.H.," provides youth access to - and education regarding - technology, entrepreneurship, the arts and community-giving opportunities and also provides the tools to build a healthy, active lifestyle. Hasham has been running the program since 2015, and the powerful impact Hockey 4 Youth is having on teens across Ontario (and now into Quebec) is immeasurable.

‘Ranking the Change-Makers’ - pg. 76

By W. Graeme Roustan

I recently donated 1,000 Christian hockey sticks and two sets of goalie equipment from my Roustan Hockey company to the Hockey Equality organization run by Chante Eastmond and Anthony Stewart in Scarborough, Ont.

Eastmond and Stewart are leaders not only in the BIPOC community but also in the overall hockey community with their combined efforts to grow the game at the grassroots level. Stewart's career in the NHL is something I envy, as I would have loved to play in the NHL and be able to use that experience in a way that he has to lift others to believe in themselves and to pursue their dreams.

Inspired by Eastmond and Stewart, I donated sticks and gear to Hockey Equality, and it made me think that I would ask some social-change leaders who they believed were making a lasting impact on what was important to them. The criteria was framed up with some general guidelines, which were: 1) impact of their work over a sustained period of time; 2) impact across national scale and reach; 3) proven ability to create authentic and systemic change; 4) measurability of work; and, 5) proven community builder.

There is nothing scientific about the compilation of this list, as it is only the thoughts and perceptions of 17 respondents, all of whom are working for social change in their communities. They were each asked to provide a list of people who met the criteria as they discerned that to be in numerical order of importance, with No. 1 being the top performer.

All 17 submitted their individual lists, which contained between seven and 25 names. They were not restricted from placing their own name on their lists, and some did. However, when they did include their own name, we averaged the result across the entire field of 17 respondents.

Our tabulation system gave sequentially higher points to individuals within the top five- 35 voting points for 1st, 30 for 2nd, 26 for 3rd, 23 for 4th, 21 for 5th, 20 for 6th, all the way down to two points for 25th.