to anyone viewing this conversation around Peters/Aliu as a reckoning for hockey culture, the only thing i will say is....

wait a month and see what we're talking about then

if more ex-players come forward with similair stories about other individuals within the hockey community at large, then maybe we have a chance to get somewhere.

but the reality is that the power dynamics of the organizational side of it and the inelastic nature of cultural institutions means this could all be for not and this could be a blip on the radar come june.

and most importantly, if the only voices we hear throughout this process are those of the victims, who have seen their careers derailed by the vicious and vindictive nature that lies at the center of power and oppression - this isnt going to go very far

what we as a community are going to need to truly make changes are those individuals who were present and witnessed what happened coming forward independent of the actual victims.

this is a very tough needle to thread because you never want to create further opportunities for harm against the victims, but we talk a lot about allyship and weaponizing privilege for change and justice.

this is how you do that.

step up and take action. its hard to do so when youre also a young player who is trying to make it in a very tough business. but if you are on the other side of that journey now - either thru retirement or by having established yourself already - speak out

that feeling of hopelessness you had in those moments of watching these kinds of things happen is a fraction of how the victims felt in those moments. step up now for them. help them come forward with support and solidarity.

hockey always loves to talk about the code and sticking up for each other. about setting a good example for those who have yet to come after you. this is the most important version of that you will ever find.