In the aftermath of multiple professional teams refusing to play their respective games in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was asked why the NHL seems to lag behind the rest of the sporting world when it comes to adequately addressing racial injustice.
"Unfortunately, we can't control some of the things that go on in the outside world," Cooper said, per theScore's John Matisz. "I truly believe that, whether it's pro sports, or the business world, or whatever it is, at some point we're all going to have to come together.
"I think, whether you say the NHL is behind or ahead, I think the league has done so many good things in so many different avenues and this is one that we need to pick our head up and take notice, and there's no doubt we will."
Cooper's comments come after the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court for their playoff contest versus the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Every subsequent match on the day's NBA schedule was then postponed, while the WNBA and MLB also had games called off in solidarity.
Members of both the Lightning and Bruins said they were made aware of other leagues postponing games upon arriving to the rink Wednesday, so they didn't have enough time to make a decision on potentially sitting out themselves.
"So, it's hard for me to answer this question, especially - like I said - with what happened while were were playing and before that," Cooper said. "But I know, (with) the league and the people running it, at some point everything will be addressed. Like I said, we'll get ourselves up to speed and support what needs to be done."
The NHL held a moment of reflection prior to the Lightning-Bruins clash on Wednesday to recognize Blake's family and condemn racism. However, there was no such event before the late game between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.
Hockey Diversity Alliance members Evander Kane and Matt Dumba called out the NHL on Wednesday night for a lack of action regarding the shooting of Blake just weeks after Dumba made a powerful speech about the Black Lives Matter movement on a national stage.
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