Voting Matters

With hockey off for a second-straight night thanks to the players stepping up and using their platform to further discussions about the Black Lives Matter movement, I was impressed by the effort by the NBA players who did the same thing, but went one step further in getting the respective owners of the NBA franchises to open arenas as voting centers in the upcoming US election after hundreds of polling stations had been closed across the US. This is how change is made when one doesn't like the system one is living in, and I commend the NBA players for asking for and demanding this change as part of their current efforts to see changes in society.

In saying that, I read an article today on Sportsnet.ca, penned by unnamed Sportsnet staff, that spoke about how the Arizona Coyotes will open Gila River Arena as a voting station in an effort to help more people vote in the upcoming election. This got me thinking as to how the Canadian NHL teams can step up and help their brethren in the US with this effort.

It should be noted that the seven Canadian NHL teams have AHL affiliates and, of those seven AHL affiliates, three are based in the US - Utica, NY (Vancouver), Stockton, California (Calgary), and Bakersfield, California (Edmonton). While New York and California have been working hard to ensure all constituents can vote, opening up the arenas in those cities would be a good way to ensure more people can vote with little trouble.

What about teams like Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal? What can they do since they have AHL affiliates in Canada?

The seven NHL teams should band together with their 24 American-based current franchises and one new franchise to get the AHL to open their arenas across the US as well. If the NHL is serious about supporting its players, it needs to use its vast influence on the AHL and, possibly, the ECHL to open arenas as voting stations for Americans.

As a Canadian, I repeatedly hear how important this vote is on all the major news networks and on multiple advertisements shown on American TV. I hear how this election could change the course of American politics for generation, how voting matters, and how every vote counts. If that's true, the NHL should follow the NBA's lead and get all the non-shared buildings in the US opened and have their AHL buildings opened as well.

In places such as Florida, Arizona, and Texas, this could prove vital in determining the results of those states in this election. With the Phoenix Suns opening their arena in downtown Phoenix thanks to the NBA efforts, having the arenas opened in Glendale as the Coyotes have pledged and opening the arena in Tucson could have a major impact for voters who may not know where to go or may have to travel great distances to vote.

Actions speak louder than words, and the NHL should know this. The best way to support social causes is for the NHL to use its influence to enable the means for those social causes. While the change that society seeks will still have to come from society itself, the NHL could go a long way in showing some social responsibility by being an ally as they claim to be.

Do right, NHL. Make this happen.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!