As the National Hockey League’s All-Star Game approaches in Florida, the league is facing criticism from conservatives for its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. These efforts, which include initiatives aimed at addressing past instances of racism and abuse, diversifying the workforce, and creating a welcoming environment for LGBTQ fans and athletes, have drawn the attention of powerful conservatives, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
The NHL’s recent initiatives have also sparked controversy on and off the ice, with leading conservatives arguing that these efforts are openly discriminatory towards straight white men, who still make up the vast majority of the league’s employees, or infringe on religious freedom. DeSantis has taken a strong stance against corporations and entities that he views as promoting a “woke” agenda in Florida.
Assistant Professor Shaun Anderson at Loyola Marymount University, who specializes in the intersection of sports and social justice initiatives, finds the notion that the NHL is “too woke” to be comical. Anderson notes that the NHL has lagged behind other leagues such as the NFL and NBA in addressing social, cultural, and political issues and is only now starting to catch up.