Matt Dumba expresses frustration with NHL’s hypocritical stance on social justice

Wild’s Matt Dumba is fed up with inaction from the NHL on social justice. 

During a day of historical significance in the North American sports world, a number of leagues decided to call off games in support of the ongoing protests against police brutality. However, one league remained unaffected by these events and chose to go on with their games as scheduled. That league is the NHL, and numerous players of color have spoken out today over the league’s hypocrisy.

Matt Dumba is a Canadian defenseman playing for the Minnesota Wild and is of Filipino heritage. He is also a founding member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance. A group of current and former NHL players, whose stated goal is to ‘eradicate systemic racism and intolerance in hockey.’

Dumba made news earlier in the NHL playoffs, as he was one of the first players to openly make a gesture of solidarity to the Black Lives Matter movement. Dumba raised his fist during the anthems of his four games played with the Minnesota Wild during the NHL playoffs. The 26-year-old Saskatchewan native had support from fellow players outside of the bubble, but very few players took the opportunity to support his cause.

Matt Dumba spoke out on Wednesday, stating on numerous platforms that the NHL, it’s players, coaches, and owners have failed to take the opportunity that other leagues have taken, in regards to the ongoing protests against social injustice. As NBA, MLB, WNBA, and MLS teams decided not to take their stages on Wednesday, the NHL went on with their games as planned, only acknowledging the Jacob Blake shooting with a ‘moment of reflection.’

Dumba spoke to the Fan 650 radio in Vancouver on Wednesday afternoon and expressed his disappointment with the league, and fellow players, for not taking a stand during such a pivotal moment in North American sports.

In short, Dumba was not surprised that the league has not taken the action he feels is needed to help support people of diversity, especially considering the league has touted its #HockeyIsForEveryone moniker for numerous years. Dumba also expressed that the league keeps coming to players of color when events like the Jacob Blake shooting occur. He feels that it’s time that non-minority players take a stand, and give their support to the cause. Although a handful of white players have given their support in numerous ways since the start of the NHL’s return to play, Dumba feels that there is still a lot more needed from his fellow players.

As of Wednesday evening, there is no further discussion being had between the NHL and it’s players, on the topic of a ‘boycott’ or strike. Something that has been seen across the other North American sports leagues. For now, the NHL playoffs will go on as planned, with nothing more than a moment of silence before the national anthems of Canada and the United States are played. While it is a small showing of solidarity, many in the hockey media feel it is, at best, an empty gesture.

At the end of the day, Dumba, and many other players feel that the NHL may never repair its public image, after their decision on Wednesday to collectively bury their heads, and not address the mounting tensions within society, and their sport. Whether any furth action from the NHL is on the horizon, remains to be seen.