Former Boston Bruin Willie O'Ree's legacy of becoming the first black hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) reaches it’s 54-year milestone on Wednesday.
For local hockey fans, taking a look back at O'Ree's accomplishment in starting his first NHL game with the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958 sheds light on how the game's history has progressed and provided increase exposure and influence for visible minority players to pursue professional careers in the game.
Interest in playing the game at the youth level has increased over recent years due to increased programming and support from the NHL, and as of last year, USA Hockey boasted registration in 47 out of 50 states, and with participation in the game still growing.
As part of that growth, youth who are part of communities where hockey is not predominantly followed as other sports may be, now have more role models to look up to and helping to provide inspiration to play the game - even more so than they did during O’Ree’s time.
Stewart and Joslin
Anthony Stewart and Derek Joslin are both current players on the Carolina Hurricanes roster who were influenced by the opportunity to progress in the game and their careers by watching the game’s best players and ambassadors, regardless of color, while growing up in the suburbs around Toronto, Ontario.
Stewart, from Scarborough, grew up idolizing Mario Lemieux during his youth hockey days and he also looked up to players like Calgary’s Jerome Iginla, former Hurricanes goaltender Kevin Weekes and forward Anson Carter.
“I looked up to Mario Lemieux, but also guys like Jerome Iginla, Kevin Weekes, Anson Carter who personally have helped pave the way and helped me when I was younger with free ice time and hockey schools and that.”
Stewart spoke highly of the role that that Weekes in particular has played in shaping his career.
“He’s definitely a mentor,” Stewart said. “We talked a lot over the summer and we send the odd text back and forth. He’s definitely an ambassador of the game and seeing his transition into media just shows how well-spoken and great of a character he has.”
Weekes makes strong impact
Carolina Hurricanes fans will not forget Weekes who helped the Hurricanes make a play-off run to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final series before succumbing to the Detroit Red Wings in five games.
Weekes was the first black goaltender in the organization's history (2002-2004) and his 14-year career also included an early stop with the short-lived Carolina Monarchs, a former ECHL and AHL franchise that played at the Greensboro Coliseum before the Hartford Whalers relocated and began NHL play there in 1997 as the Carolina Hurricanes.
Since his playing days and currently as a television analyst, Weekes has not stopped giving back to the game and taking the steps needed to help others appreciate it.
In September of 2009, Weekes made history when he became the first black hockey analyst for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, a historical feat for televised hockey.
Along with O’Ree, Weekes works diligently to develop the game from its grassroots levels through various personal and sport-related initiatives.
Weeke’s impact on players like Stewart and Joslin is evident by the praise they give in describing him as a role model in the game; not only as a former black player but as a person working to help others and showing them how to do the same.
Paying it forward
In speaking with Stewart, and for anyone who’s had the opportunity to meet him, it is not surprising how he views his role in the game for younger players by helping them out when he can.
“I sort of look at it as a way to pay it forward,“ Stewart said. “Now I took some guys under my wing as my brother Chris when he was younger and Devo Smith-Pelly in Anaheim and Wayne Simmonds. That’s the only way I think to help grow the game is to help those guys who may struggle when they’re younger and once they make it to my position they’ll do the same thing.”
Growing up a little further north of Toronto, in Richmond Hill, Joslin cited the players who influenced him.
“I really liked Nik Lidstrom as a defenseman, and obviously Jerome Iginla as well - he does it all,” Joslin said as he mentions Iginla’s recent 500-goal milestone.
“I think you’re starting to see that more now than you did a few years ago - there’s more ethnicities playing this game at the professional level,” Joslin continued.
When asked if there is more motivation for young kids playing the game to continue on because they see players of color and different ethnicities playing in the NHL, Joslin stated: “Just seeing them playing in the league - sure everyone wants to feel part of it.”
“It’s definitely growing,” Stewart stated regarding increased interest in hockey amongst young players of color and other ethnicities. “It definitely helps when a kid decides what sport he wants to play and sees some visible minorities in the NHL that hopefully that can help one kid to say that he can do it.”
O’Ree the ambassador
Though O’Ree might not have thought of himself as becoming a pioneer and a visible figure for the game 54 years ago, since his debut back then, over 90 black hockey players have played and made their own appearances in NHL hockey games.
O’Ree continues to provide direction and inspiration to all young players as the NHL's Director of Youth Programming as the programs he oversees have opened the gate for over 40,000 youth to enter the ice and learn how to play the game across the country, including those in Raleigh.
Talking with O’Ree during last year’s All-Star Week festivities hosted by the Hurricanes, he stressed that the importance of passing on good virtues of the game falls on the influence of parents and coaches to motivate their kids to have fun.
“It starts when parents want their kids to be the best possible players they can be,” O’Ree stated. “The bottom line is to have fun. If these players are on the ice and not having fun, then something is wrong.”
A matter of time and place
While growing up playing the game, Joslin noted that for him and where he grew up, race didn’t play a role in keeping him from playing the game and pursuing a professional career out of it.
“I don’t think there’s a difference at all where you play,”Joslin said.
“It’s never really an issue; it was never really brought up. Playing hockey (in Canada) it (race) wasn’t a big deal. My dad’s side is African-American and my mom’s side is white - it never became an issue for me. Like they say – hockey is for everybody.”
Unfortunately, not every hockey player grows up and lives in the same place and has the same experience playing the game, but there is a common thread that weaves the sport that makes everyone color blind – having the drive to be a champion.
“Whether you’re looking up at Kevin Weekes or Eric Staal – the glory of making it and playing for the Stanley Cup, that’s the greatest motivation of all,” Joslin said.
Focus of the day
It seems then, that for young professionals like Stewart and Joslin, they are taking advantage of having the opportunity to play in the NHL and show appreciation for it by the thanks they provide to others who are playing and have played the game before them.
Are there still racial issues and inadequacies in the sport of hockey at its various levels? Quite possibly so, but that is a question and a topic for another day.
On this day, there is no doubt that what Willie O’Ree did 54 years ago influenced others like Kevin Weekes, and as they both did during their playing careers in the NHL, and even more so with what they are doing for the game now, have passed it on to players like Stewart and Joslin.
Like they say, ‘hockey is for everyone’.
Follow the Raleigh Sports Examiner on Twitter @pksport
New! The Carolina Hockey Network
Get Carolina Hurricanes news from the Raleigh Sports Examiner daily: Just click the Subscribe button
Comments