Jordan Harris, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Erik Gudbranson join NHL Player Inclusion Coalition

The National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced Monday that a trio of current NHLers and one alumnus have joined the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Seattle Kraken), Erik Gudbranson (Columbus Blue Jackets), Jordan Harris (Montreal Canadiens) and NHL alumnus Anthony Stewart have joined the group, bringing the membership total to 24.

The news comes as the league has completed a Leaguewide educational tour with all 32 clubs.

The NHL PIC locker room discussions were led by former NHLers Mark Fraser (New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers), Georges Laraques (Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens), Jamal Mayers (St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks and Maple Leafs), Al Montoya (New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, Coyotes, and Oilers), and Anthony Stewart (Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Panthers.)

Each member hosted one-hour guided conversations with active players in all 32 locker rooms, focusing on diversity and inclusion. Each alumnus received professional training from Professor John Amaechi. Amaechi is a renowned psychologist and leadership development consultant who previously played in the NBA for five seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz.

We’ve experienced that when Players engage and lead on matters of inclusion in hockey, seismic, sustainable, and positive culture change can happen,” said Kim Davis, NHL Sr. Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives, and Legislative Affairs. “The NHL PIC educational tour empowered NHL Alumni to leverage their personal stories for this purpose and, in doing so, has sparked important conversations among NHL teammates of this generation.”

“We celebrate the contributions of all Players on the NHL PIC, which continues to grow in both membership and impact,” said Chris Campoli, NHLPA Divisional Representative and former NHL Player. “The additions of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Erik Gudbranson, Jordan Harris and Anthony Stewart to the NHL PIC will further help the group’s ongoing efforts to build an inclusive culture that benefits the Players of today and tomorrow.”