Two North Dakota Players Plan to Kneel During Season Opener National Anthem

Jacob Bernard-Docker and Jasper Weatherby of the University of North Dakota's men's hockey team have announced they plan to kneel during the national anthem on Wednesday.

The 2020-21 schedule is set to kick off for the team, and the forward and defenseman from the club have made their intentions known.

Weatherby chatted with Brad Elliott Schlossman from the Grand Folks Herald and had this to say:

We believe racial injustices and the (poor) treatment of minorities and people of color in this country needs to stop, and it needs to be improved all over America and all over the world. For us, being able to have a platform in a place where there aren't a lot of people of color in hockey or in Grand Forks, it's a really interesting position for us to be in. It's a great platform. 

I think change is uncomfortable for a lot of people. If this (demonstration) is uncomfortable for you, it's a great opportunity to educate yourself and look inside and ask yourself, 'Why does that upset me?' and, 'Why is someone from my hometown doing this?' We hope the hockey community knows that we stand with people of color and we are not OK with the way people are being treated in this country.

Weatherby went on to mention the kneeling will only take place before Wednesday's game and hope they can help spread awareness on the matter. The Fighting-Hawks from North Dakota take on the Miami-Ohio University in their season opener. 

Photo credit:Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire