NHL releases statement after Derek Chauvin guilty verdict

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On Tuesday, a Minnesota jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts in the death of George Floyd.

Athletes, fans, teams and sports leagues alike are reacting to the news.

That includes the National Hockey League, which released a statement on Tuesday evening.

The statement reads: "While we hope the end of the trial offers a chance for healing, we remain committed to actively engaging in the movement for equality and we invite our fans to join us in supporting systematic change."

In late 2020, the NHL announced initiatives to combat racism and accelerate inclusion efforts in collaboration with the NHL Players Association.

The NHL and NHLPA also planned for mandatory inclusion and diversity training for players, team staff and league employees. The league also set out to educate their fans with the Committing to Change resource guide and amplifying voices of those within the NHL trying to bring about change.

The league formed an Executive Inclusion Council, tasked with focusing on inclusion efforts in hockey, including identifying tangible action steps.

The NHL and NHLPA introduced the Hockey Diversity Alliance to implement a grassroots hockey development program for BIPOC boys and girls in the Toronto area, with plans for a pilot program in the United States.

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