Golden Knights and Stars players kneel during both anthems pregame (Video)

Just days after Matt Dumba became the first NHL player to kneel during the national anthem, 4 more joined him on Monday

Dumba broke a barrier in the NHL, and was greeted with open arms. The Wild defenseman knelt in the name of social justice with the support of his teammates, and was given the chance to explain his statement before the Edmonton Oilers-Chicago Blackhawks game. Dumba, sporting a Hockey Diversity Alliance, explained his cause in front of a sport that has yet to fully integrate to its potential, but appears more ready to have that conversation than ever before.

“I know why I knelt and it wasn’t a sign of disrespect by any means,” Dumba said. “It was to shed light on the people who’ve lived through injustice and oppression, especially in my home state of Minnesota.”

Dumba’s cause hasn’t gone unnoticed, and on Monday he was joined by four of his peers

Robin Lehner, Tyler Seguin, Ryan Reaves and Jason Dickinson all knelt prior to the Golden Knights-Stars matchup, making it clear that Dumba is not alone. If anything the four took Dumba’s message to heart, as the 26-year-old stated several days ago that regretted not kneeling during the Canadian anthem, as well.

“There needs to be a lot of light that has to be shed on what is happening in Canada and the oppression First Nations have felt for hundreds of years,” Dumba said. “I have First Nations and Aboriginal families that have lived it and I was disappointed looking back on it.”

Seguin, Dickinson and Reaves (a dual citizen) are Canadian, making kneeling for both anthems extra meaningful for them. The NHL’s unique ability to raise social issues in two countries is one they, hopefully, will not shy away from.