After years of feeling alienated by the NHL and campaigning to diversify the sport, Akim Aliu is getting another shot at playing pro hockey.

Akim Aliu and his fellow members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance are feeling betrayed and confused after being excluded by the NHL in its decision to launch an inclusion coalition.

The NHL for the first time has done an internal demographic study of its staff and all 32 teams.

Former pro hockey player Akim Aliu has a graphic novel in the works that tells his story and how he overcame racism and poverty.

Members of the recently formed Hockey Diversity Alliance are sharing their painful experiences in launching a campaign to eradicate racism in the NHL.

The NHL on Thursday cleared Dale Tallon of any wrongdoing after an independent investigation found it could not substantiate claims he made inappropriate racial, religious and ethnic comments as general manager of the Florida Panthers. The NHL found Tallon did not violate any of those. The team hired longtime agent-turned Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM as Tallon's replacement. Tallon has been linked to a possible job in the Pittsburgh Penguins front office after they fired assistant GM Jason Karmanos this week. Tallon did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the NHL's investigation.

Seven current or former black NHL players formed the Hockey Diversity Alliance on Monday, creating another avenue to fight racism and intolerance in the sport. Our mission is to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey, the group said in a letter. The Hockey Diversity Alliance will be independent of the NHL but hopes to work in tandem with the league to promote diversity and inclusion. He called on white athletes in hockey and others sports to also speak out, and more than 100 NHL players have posted on social media about the subject. In creating our alliance, we are confident we can inspire a new generation of hockey players and fans, the group said.

For the NHL, a league with an overwhelming majority of white athletes, the issue is as important as ever, especially after a season filled with criticism about racism in hockey. Many black hockey players, such as Evander Kane of the San Jose Sharks, have been quick to speak out. Kane has called on white athletes to speak up on race issues. Heres what Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews posted to Instagram this week:"A lot of people may claim these riots and acts of destruction are a terrible response. It has pushed me to think, how much pain are black people and other minorities really feeling?