“This is about bringing us all closer together, whether in hockey or throughout life. All of you are not going to just buy in to this easily. What I’m asking you to do is listen and tell you that this transformation is happening, and we want you to be a part of it, not a naysayer looking to the outside wishing that we have failure,” said Phillips. “Try to be a part of it because it’s going to make a big difference. We will have more people playing. The sport will be much better if we all work harder to be as one.”
One of the lessons learned from Respect Group is about empowering the bystander to speak up when something that’s wrong is happening. It’s on all of us to change how people view the sport. Just because an issue doesn’t exist in your community doesn’t mean you don’t talk about it.
“I tell parents you can talk about whatever you want with your son or daughter. But when they get to the rink, they are under a different standard. It’s not allowable here. Once you get to our arenas and representing our sport, you can’t do it here.”