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’s Thursday and Friday playoff games have been postponed in response to the outcry for racial injustice awareness after a Black man was shot by police in Wisconsin. The league said this was the decision of the players not to play the games and that the NHL honors that decision. The NHLPA and the NHL are committed to working to foster more inclusive and welcoming environments within our arenas, offices and beyond.”Statement from the National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League. The NHL, meanwhile, went ahead with its Stanley Cup playoff games on Wednesday. NHL players did not boycott, and the league allowed the players to make that decision.

The Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA) has requested that the NHL suspend its Thursday playoff games in the name of human rights. UPDATE: NHL postpones games in response to outcry for racial justice awarenessSan Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane tweeted on behalf of the HDA:We the @TheOfficialHDA have formally requested the @NHL to suspend all playoff games today. The NHL, meanwhile, went ahead with its Stanley Cup playoff games on Wednesday. NHL players did not boycott, and the league allowed the players to make that decision. On Wednesday, Kane was among the long list of vocal critics of how the NHL and players handled the situation.

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.