Haven't been on this site for a while, but was super surprised that this article or subjects similar to this was never posted in this forum. Especially in recent times.
If you haven't read it already then please take your time and go over it as it's definitely worth a read.
https://www.theplaye...e-akim-aliu-nhl
A lot of what he says is very true in hockey culture which makes the culture around the sport a shitty place. Although I’m not black I’m still a minority that’s heard some fucked up shit. Usually I’ll say something or take action if someone says something out of line, I've been lucky in the sense that no one's said anything racists like that to my face cause I wouldn't hesitate to knock someone out for that.
I've been playing hockey for many years now because I love the sport and I feel the same way that Akim feels about being about to fly around on the ice under your own power out with your friends or at an outdoor pick up just feeling the air and play with some random people just enjoying the session and living in the now with nothing else on your mind, there’s something addictive about it.
When I tell someone that doesn’t know a lot about hockey that I play the sport and they call me a “hockey player”, I strongly dislike it due to the stigma and connotations of what comes along with it and what people view it as. I always find myself telling them that I like hockey cause it’s fun and not for the culture. I loathe the way hockey players talk, closet racism, politics and other negative aspects that are involved in hockey.
I always found it ironic when the NHL tried to celebrate people like Willie O'Ree which is a great thing, but failed to fix aspects down deep inside hockey culture. In what other profession is a person of power allowed to say “Hey Akim, I’m sick of you playing that n*gger shit,” infront of a whole group of people and allowed to keep his job because the people under him are so scared to report it due to their livelyhood. It only came to traction as of late because it was damage control on the NHL.
Listen the Bissonette on Spittin Chiclet’s and he speaks about times when people have called him racial term due to his genetics.
I always wish the culture in this sport was more inclusive and open like the NBA, Adam Silver has made great strides and lengths for equality and inclusion.
The culture in hockey is toxic and needs to change.
