Lightning Round: NHL prospects Jasper Weatherby and Jacob Bernard-Docker to kneel during national anthem at NCAA season opener

University of North Dakota alternate captains Jasper Weatherby (SJS 4th, 2018) and Jacob Bernard-Docker (OTT 1st, 2018) will kneel for the national anthem at the team’s season opener today. [Grand Forks Herald]

“We believe racial injustices and the treatment of minorities and people of color in this country needs to stop, and it needs to be improved all over America and all over the world,” Weatherby said. “For us, being able to have a platform in a place where there aren’t a lot of people of color in hockey or in Grand Forks, it’s a really interesting position for us to be in. It’s a great platform.

You will remember that the University of North Dakota had former Arizona Coyotes draft pick Mitchell Miller on their team before the NHL club renounced the pick and the college cut him from his roster. Quite a turnaround and the credit goes to the players.

“‘At the end of the day, we want UND to be a safe place. As athletes who do have a platform, we stand with our brothers and sisters of color.’

“Weatherby and Bernard-Docker, who are both white, know it will make some people uncomfortable, and they’re OK with that.”

I wrote at length about the debacle surrounding Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, including a point about how UND was an opportunity for Miller to unlearn his racist tendencies and be accepting of others. They and the Coyotes chose instead to wash their hands of the whole thing. I do wonder if change could’ve come if Miller was exposed to players like Weatherby and Bernard-Docker. Maybe Isaiah would’ve at least heard an apology.

I encourage everyone to read what these amazing young men have to say and why we all need to internalize and reflect on their message.

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