Bruins GM Don Sweeney applauds Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara's efforts against racism
Many NHL players and organizations have spoken out against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, and that includes two of the league's biggest leaders in Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron.
Chara, Boston's captain, participated in "Black Lives Matter" protests last week and pledged to continue to stand for equality as a result.
Bergeron, who is one of the Bruins' biggest leaders in the locker room and beyond, donated $25,000 each to the Boston NAACP and Centre Multiethnique de Quebec in Canada.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney applauded the efforts by both players, and noted he fully supports their decision to protest racial injustice.
"I think it's a testament to their leadership, not as hockey players, but as human beings,” Sweeney said, according to Conor Ryan.
Chara and Bergeron have garnered the respect of players throughout the NHL. During a 2013 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bergeron assisted an EMT onto the TD Garden ice with a stretcher to transport an injured Brooks Orpik to Mass General Hospital.
Bergeron also was honored with a community service award in 2014, hosts an annual "Pucks and Paddles" ping pong tournament for charity and created the "Patrice's Pals" program which brings patients from local hospitals and other children's organizations to TD Garden to experience a Bruins home game in a VIP suite.
Floyd, 46, died two weeks ago after being violently seized by Minneapolis police. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The main officer involved in the incident, Derek Chauvin, was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter as a result of the incident. On June 3, Chauvin's charge was upgraded to second-degree murder, and three other now-former officers who were on the scene are facing charges.
More must-reads: