Ex-Capitals forward Joel Ward opens up about racism, importance of representation in hockey

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"People wanted me dead for the color of my skin," he said of tweets that appeared on social media soon after. "I was like, 'Oh, geez, my God, they want me dead.' I was like, it's one thing to say, 'Hey, you suck.' Like, to say, 'I want you dead' because of the color of my skin, I was like, 'Damn.' So that was kind of an eye-opener."

Joel Ward, a former Washington Capitals forward, has courageously shared his experiences with racism in hockey and the importance of representation. His journey in the NHL was not without challenges, as he faced racism both on and off the ice. Ward’s resilience and passion for the game helped him overcome negativity, but he also recognizes the need for change.

He now advocates for awareness and works to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey through initiatives like the Hockey Diversity Alliance.