It's momentum. There's something real happening now.” As Mike Grier begins his tenure as the first Black general manager in NHL history, six change-makers dedicated to growing the game reflected on the significance of this moment: (via SachdevaSonny)
Like so many other dates linked forever to momentous, long-awaited steps forward for the hockey world, this one too will have its place on that path: the day Mike Grier was officially named GM of the San Jose Sharks, and in turn, the day he became the first Black general manager in NHL history.
To get a better sense of the significance of this moment and the momentum we’ve seen envelop the sport, we turned to six changemakers who’ve long been dedicated to growing the game and building a more diverse hockey world, and asked them to share their perspectives:is the NHL’s senior vice president of social impact, growth and legislative affairs, and has long served as the leading voice within the league when it comes to efforts to diversify the game.
We're in a place where we're recognizing talent from all different parts of the hockey world, you know? And we're making right some of these past ills of hockey's [past] generations. With all the hirings and the acknowledgement, I just think it's inspiring. It just goes to show that the game is growing. The talk is not just cheap.I think we're starting to see owners understand that it's not just, ‘Let's take a risk.