Stewart inspires Flyers' decision to join protest against racism

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyДобро пожаловать на NHL.com, официальный сайт Национальной хоккейной лигиTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey LeagueChris Stewart played 16 games with the Philadelphia Flyers this season before he was sent down to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Jan. 16, but the impact the 32-year-old forward made on his teammates during his time with them clearly was significant.Flyers forwards James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton each said they called Stewart, who is Black, in the hours after their 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Wednesday seeking his advice on the best way forward in the wake of NBA players boycotting playoff games to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday."I've prided myself on being a great teammate on the ice, off the ice," Stewart said Friday. I'm forever indebted and got great gratitude for the NHL players and tons of respect for those guys."The NHL postponed four Stanley Cup Playoff games scheduled for Thursday and Friday after players from the eight remaining teams decided not to play as a form of protest against systemic racism and police brutality. The playoffs will resume Saturday.Van Riemsdyk felt it was important to hear from Stewart, a Toronto native who has played 668 games for seven teams in 11 NHL seasons."I only got a chance to play with [Stewart] for this season but have gotten to know him really well, really respect him as a teammate and as a friend," van Riemsdyk said Thursday.Video: Ryan Reaves on solidarity among NHL playersStewart, who is not on the Flyers roster for the playoffs, wouldn't go into detail on their conversations but said he made sure his teammates knew no question was off limits."Any question is a good question," Stewart said.