NHL, NHLPA Launch Player Inclusion Coalition: Georges Laraque Chooses Hockey 4 Youth As His Grant Recipient (NHL/NHLPA Player Inclusion Coalition)

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association today announced, the launch of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, a group of current and former NHL Players and women's professional hockey Players who work to advance equality and inclusion in the sport of hockey on and off the ice. As part of the launch, the NHLPA and NHL have earmarked more than $1 million USD to support the coalition's programs through contributions to grassroots organizations, Player-perspective storytelling, and other special projects.

The NHL Player Inclusion Coalition is co-chaired by NHL Alumni Anson Carter and P.K. Subban and now has 20 members with a range of perspectives across Players of color, LGBTQ+ Players, and allies. The group was first formed in 2020 as the NHL Player Inclusion Committee, where members met regularly to inform and develop recommendations to the NHL's Executive Inclusion Council on how to improve experiences for diverse Players in elite hockey…

Additionally, throughout the 2022-23 season, each coalition member selected an organization that supports diversity and inclusion in hockey to receive a $5,000 USD grant from the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition Action Fund…

Georges Laraque: Hockey 4 Youth, an organization that provides new Canadian youth with an opportunity to play ice hockey at no cost. Laraque's grant helped launch a new program for girls in grade 5-6 in the Saint-Laurent area of Montreal.

[Read the full press release]

Hockey 4 Youth Tours the United by Hockey Mobile Museum

Eric Knight gives Hockey 4 Youth founder Moezine Hasham a tour of the United by Hockey Museum. The United by Hockey Mobile Museum celebrates hockey's trailblazers, changemakers and business leaders spanning multiple underrepresented and multicultural demographics.

The travelling museum is a unique experience that showcases 840 square feet of history, including exclusive artifacts from players from an array of backgrounds; video components; an interactive broadcast booth; and a look at the next generation of young stars, NHL Officials, broadcasters and women in the game. The museum also features one-of-a-kind hockey card collections from collectors across North America, highlighting players from underrepresented demographics.

PUCK POSITIVE: Weekend hockey summit focuses on diversity, belonging and fun for everyone (Ottawa Sun)

Hasham has played the game his entire life, including at the University of Northern British Columbia. After a working career in charitable and community causes, he has since turned his passion for the game and new Canadians into Hockey 4 Youth. While there are many start-up programs across Canada, there were previously few openings for teenagers to get their first taste of the sport.

The program, which has backing from the NHL, the NHL players’ association, city recreational departments and corporate sponsors including Canadian Tire and Scotiabank, provides resources and opportunities for teenagers to try the game. More than 600 students have participated since 2015, including 65 at Gloucester, Ridgemont and Ottawa Tech High Schools in Ottawa. Woodroffe could come on board in September.

Students in the program have roots in Syria, Lebanon, Vietnam, Mexico, Somalia, Ethiopia and Barbados.

Hasham is over the moon that one of the Ottawa students, Rhouba El Khatib, is speaking about her experiences at a panel discussion Saturday at The Hockey Summit on Diversity and Belonging.

The three-day event, hosted by the R.I.S.E. Academy, is giving a voice to those who have often felt like they’re on the outside looking in at the sport and finding paths to make Canada’s game safer and more inclusive.

[Read the full article - Weekend hockey summit focuses on diversity, belonging and fun for everyone]