By Matt Fetinko

Local sports teams speak on professional athletes’ protests

Aug 27, 2020 | 6:26 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Athletes are role models in any community and Prince George is no exception. Both the UNBC Timberwolves and Prince George Cougars are among the most prominent sports teams in the city, so we asked their perspective of what’s going on in the world of sports.

“We just want to be supportive of the cause and the message behind that. We think it’s really important and I’m happy that it’s out on the forefront but whether the NHL should or shouldn’t play their games, we just want to be supportive of any efforts that any professional teams are making,” said Andy Beesley, VP Marketing for the Prince George Cougars.

UNBC Timberwolves Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Todd Jordan, said, “the first thing is we would definitely listen. We would start a discussion at that point and I hope that discussion would not just be with that individual player but it would turn into a team discussion and a department discussion.”

A video was made in June featuring Timberwolves Guard Tyrell Laing where he spoke out about racism and social injustice. This followed the death of George Floyd, a black man in the United States killed by police officers sparking worldwide outrage and protests, including a few demonstrations here in Prince George. As for the protests related to Jacob Blake, support is there for any athlete who chooses to follow through with similar demonstrations seen by professional athletes this week.

“I read this morning that Bill Russell was protesting back in the 1960’s. He boycotted an NBA game back then and you think well that was 60 years ago and we’re still here on 2020 dealing with the same kind of issues,” recalled Jordan.

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Much was said about the NHL’s action or lack thereof, players deciding to follow through with their scheduled games. While a short tribute was made before one of their games, fans on social media, and even some NHL players not in the bubble, expressing disappointment more was not done. This comes after a tough year for the NHL in terms of scandals and stories about racial inequality. The Prince George Cougars Andy Beesley saying while it is tough to comment on what is or is not happening in the National Hockey League, diversity is top of mind for the Western Hockey League.

“There are, for example, webinars and training sessions upcoming before this latest round of social unrest has happened. The WHL has been very proactive in providing seminars for governors, general managers, business staff, and players,” Beesley explained. “But on a local level what we can do is put the issue out in the open and talk about it, recognize it, and almost say ‘bring it on’. It’s a problem and we’re not going to deny it.”

Both Beesley and Jordan say one thing sports teams can do as role models is to create conversation and awareness about these types of issues. Beesley referenced programs where the Cougars players interact with young, impressionable minds as an opportunity to include diversity education into those types of opportunities.