Today’s episode is an important discussion with an important individual about an important initiative.
Rico Phillips is the Director of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion for the Ontario Hockey League and an advisory board member to the Hockey Diversity Alliance. He’s also the 2019 recipient of the NHL’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, an a nnual recognition by the NHL “to an individual who – through the game of hockey – has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society.”
We sit down with Rico and discuss some difficult situations he has faced personally as a ref and player, the support the NHL gave when Rico sought to grow his Flint Inner City Youth Hockey Program, guidance he’s received from Willie O’Ree, and actions all of us – no matter our role and background – can take to become involved or more involved in making hockey a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive sport.
