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- Upside-down water hockey, Humboldt Broncos survivor wins TARC & Nikita Zadorov takes a brave step
Upside-down water hockey, Humboldt Broncos survivor wins TARC & Nikita Zadorov takes a brave step
Your all-in-one innovation + positive impact + culture news in hockey.
Tom Sychterz
September 29, 2023
Dear Hockey of Tomorrow reader,
Hockey season is upon us.
Let’s get into the good stuff.
FEATURED PIECE
Our featured piece this week looks into upside-down water hockey.
Did you know that even existed? Because I did not.
This variant of hockey was created 18 years ago and will … wait for it….wait for it…. turn your head upside down.
The popularity of the sport is growing in Europe, but has yet to make a splash in North America.
Wanna know more?
You know the drill. Click below and read up.
MUST READ
Parul Khosla is an American entrepreneur who has worked in the diversity and inclusion department with numerous sports leagues in the past. She now has combined all of her experience into her new company, Elevate Sports Talent, which provides a refreshing opportunity to help marginalized job-seekers land sports jobs. Our contributor Kirsten Staple sat down with her to talk about her journey and diversity in sports.
....+ two stories that haven't been covered yet on our platform
Humboldt Broncos survivor Tyler Smith and his girlfriend have won The Amazing Race Canada Season 9
Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov has spoken out about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Everyone loves a feel-good stories
Humboldt Broncos survivor Tyler Smith and his girlfriend, Kat Kastner, have been crowned the winners of The Amazing Race Canada Season 9.
This Canadian reality TV show featured ten teams of two in a race across all of Canada. Starting in Winnipeg, racers travelled through Manitoba, Alberta, Biritish Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, before finishing in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Smith and Kastner finished first, as they were the fastest to conclude the 12,000 kilometers race.
Tyler Smith was one of the survivor of the fatal Humboldt crash.
Ten players and six staff members were lost that day of April 6th, 2018.
During the show, Smith and Kastner always referred to the 16 angels they have in the sky looking down at them.
I think for us, we went into it wanting to inspire and offer hope, and hopefully give people faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully… Offering those smiles, offering those laughs can offer the same thing on the other side of the TV.
Nikita Zadorov stirs things
We haven’t seen a lot of Russian hockey players or athletes talk about the invasion of Ukraine.
In tennis, Andrey Rublev, spoke out by writing ‘‘No War please’’ on the camera following his advancement to the final in Dubai.
That was in April 2021, so a couple of weeks after the news broke out about the invasion.
In the hockey world, it’s been oddly quiet. One of those who did pipe up was Calgary Flames’ defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
He has a pinned post on his Instagram page of a ‘‘No War’’ photo since the beginning of the invasion.
He recently dove into things in an interview with The Hockey News.
I’m definitely aware of the consequences I’m going to get. I probably can’t go back to my Motherland, where I grew up, my city where I grew up, and I’m OK with that. I think it’s important for young guys, Russian players, to know it’s OK to speak out. I just have a hope — maybe it’s a child hope — but I hope my words can change something in this world. I think it’s important to speak out.
Zadorov also mentioned that ‘‘There’s a lot of who have the same view as him’’ in Russia, but are too afraid to talk about it publicly.
Regardless of political agendas, freedom of speech is not to be taken for granted.
So good on you, Nikita.
That’s it for this edition of the Hockey of Tomorrow newsletter. As we continue to highlight the best, most diverse, and most interesting, off-ice hockey stories, we would appreciate any feedback you might have.
Tom Sychterz, Founder
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