FRISCO — In the last four months, with the NHL paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tyler Seguin spent some of his time learning about Black Lives Matter.
He attended a Black Lives Matter protest June 4 in the wake of George Floyd’s death the previous week. He posted a statement on social media about learning to become more empathetic and hoping that society “will come out enlightened, fight for change, and will finally hear the historically stifled voices of all underrepresented groups of people.”
— Tyler Seguin (@tseguinofficial) June 2, 2020
Seguin — the 28-year-old former first-round pick and current franchise center for the Stars — was one of the most high-profile hockey players to express support for Black Lives Matter. On Tuesday, following the second day of Stars training camp, Seguin spoke to reporters about his experience.
“Knowledge is power with everything going on in the world,” Seguin said. “That’s how I looked at it. When everything happened, I felt so sad. It just hit me seeing everything with George Floyd and the lady in the dog park, I forget her name, just everything going on. Just realizing how many Black friends I have from growing up in Brampton, just at the gym in Toronto. Saying to myself at that point in time, it wasn’t my business and waiting a day or two and realizing that’s part of the problem is me sitting here saying that’s not my business even though it bothered me.
“That’s just from understanding and learning, and going on Twitter and reading articles and learning about history, and understanding that’s my problem, that’s everyone’s problem. Just want to be part of the change. Realizing I have a platform, no matter how small that platform is, to make a difference. That’s why I wanted to take that first and second step of doing something to change and help change. I think you’ll see more steps now in the next couple of months. It’s kind of hard to do much going to Edmonton, but at least for next season, we’ll have things going on. We’ve worked with St. Philip’s kids before, and you’ll see new things with that as well. I’m looking forward to that.”
Here is the video. pic.twitter.com/T79xBqOU9L
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) July 14, 2020
Seguin said he spoke with Black hockey players like former Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly and Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. He said he learned to discern between different news outlets. For Seguin, he said making hockey more welcoming to Black players begins with information and understanding.
“I can personally say I’ve never really thought twice or understood,” Seguin said. “I’ve just been a white, Canadian hockey player that loves hockey and goes about my business. I’ve never kind of looked twice, or thought twice. For me, that was the accountability to speak out, to understand that I’m in the wrong as well for not realizing or understanding other people’s paths have been way harder than mine.”
Seguin said he would be part of multiple initiatives in the future.
Seguin already volunteers at St. Philip’s School and Community Center in South Dallas, where the Stars pledged $2 million last April. He said he would also be a part of an NHL-led initiative and “something personally from me as well.” Seguin said the plans would also be for when fans are allowed back in arenas, and that heading to Edmonton for the postseason would pause those plans.
“It’ll just be continuing to understand, and how I can change, how we can all change and how everyone can feel more comfortable,” Seguin said. “I was sitting there talking with [Smith-Pelly] a couple of weeks ago, and just realizing that I’ve never even asked him if his path was harder than the rest, or harder than mine. You just kind of go along with everything. It’s just kind of how it’s been and how it is. It’s something that we need to change, and need to understand. Understand that everyone is equal, and make the world a better place.”
