In a tweet from Akim Aliu, it was revealed the Bill Peters, current head coach of the Calgary Flames, used the n-word several times in reaction to the music the then-rookie was playing. And people are surprised. My reaction was a bit different. I wasn’t surprised - if anything I was surprised a story like … Continue reading When Will Hockey Be For Everyone?
Screen the Willie O’Ree Documentary at Middleburg Film Festival With BGHC October 19
See Willie with BGHC The first Black Girl Hockey Club meetup of the 2019-2020 NHL season is coming up in Washington D.C. October 18 at Capital One Arena, which just happens to be the same weekend the Willie (2019) documentary is set to screen right up the road at the Middleburg Film Festival. The film, a … Continue reading Screen the Willie O’Ree Documentary at Middleburg Film Festival With BGHC October 19
Our Stars of the Game: J.T. Brown
The path to get to where you want to be isn’t always easy, Minnesota Wild winger J.T. Brown can tell you. When he heard taunts and racist slurs slung his way as a child, his team and coach stood behind him. When he raised his fist during the U.S. national anthem to protest injustice, the … Continue reading Our Stars of the Game: J.T. Brown
Our Stars of the Game: Matt Dumba
“The game I love… it’s for everybody" The Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba is used to standing out in the game that he loves. The 24-year-old defenseman, known for his physical and fearless style of play, was having what was shaping up to be the best season of his NHL career until injury sent him from … Continue reading Our Stars of the Game: Matt Dumba
BGHC Does DC: The Inaugural Meetup
It's taken 7 days to write this post, but the actuality of the situation hasn't quite set in yet. A week ago, I was in Washington DC; getting picked up at sunrise by William Douglas of the Color of Hockey blog; grabbing brunch with Metro Riveters player, Kelsey Koelzer and her mom; exploring Black history … Continue reading BGHC Does DC: The Inaugural Meetup
Willie O’Ree Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
On Monday evening in Toronto, Willie O'Ree, the first Black professional hockey player in the NHL, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Surrounded by friends, family and fans, O'Ree accepted his induction with the style and grace he is known for. Not only was O'Ree present, but many of the Black fans and … Continue reading Willie O’Ree Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
3 Famous Black Hockey Fans We Love
Retta It all started with a tweet. Retta, best known for her role as "Donna" on the television show Parks and Recreation, has been a Kings hockey fan since 2013 and shows no signs of letting up. In 2016, Retta wrote a piece on LetterLenny.com, highlighting the development of her hockey obsession titled, "How I Became … Continue reading 3 Famous Black Hockey Fans We Love
Prospects of Color: Jermaine Loewen for the Dallas Stars
Drafted June 2018 by the Dallas Stars, Jermaine Loewen's hockey career defies expectations. While the economic barriers of hockey could have been a roadblock to the majors, Jermaine was adopted from a Jamaican orphanage at the age of four. He moved to Manitoba, Canada where the Loewens fostered his love of the game and looked … Continue reading Prospects of Color: Jermaine Loewen for the Dallas Stars
Kelsey Koelzer, Madison Bowey, Devante Smith-Pelly and the Summer of Black Hockey Excellence
2018 is the summer of Black hockey excellence! On July 30th, Madison Bowey, defensive player for the Washington Capitals, celebrated his team's Stanley Cup Championship win with family and friends in Winnipeg. He ate pierogies out of the Cup and hung out with fans in his local community. Madison recently signed a two-year extension with … Continue reading Kelsey Koelzer, Madison Bowey, Devante Smith-Pelly and the Summer of Black Hockey Excellence
Black Hockey History: The Maritime Colored Hockey League
Did you know Black folks have been playing hockey since the 1800s? The Maritime Colored Hockey League was founded in Nova Scotia in 1894 and had teams with names like The Eureka and Jubilee. George and Darril Fosty wrote a book about the league, Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of … Continue reading Black Hockey History: The Maritime Colored Hockey League