Matt Dumba became the first NHL player to kneel for a national anthem during the league’s restart on Saturday.The Regina native made a speech about social and racial justice prior to Edmonton’s first game of the NHL restart — the second overall — before he kneeled for The Star Spangled Banner.Players from the Oilers and Blackhawks stood around the centre-ice circle for both anthems prior to the Edmonton-Chicago game.
NHL season resumes with Carolina Hurricanes win over New York Rangers Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse and Blackhawks goalie Malcolm Subban each put a hand on Dumba’s shoulder as he kneeled for a recording of the American anthem.