Bernie Saunders always had a passion for hockey. His prodigious talent was on display at all levels for everyone to see. But because he was Black, he was stymied at every turn and experienced nothing but taunting from opponents, spectators, coaches and even his own teammates. Despite this malevolence, Saunders continued to play, adopting a…
In the ultra-competitive junior hockey leagues in the early 1960s, a young man could tolerate nearly anything that helped him stand out from the hordes of other prospects, so John Paris, Jr. did just that. The African-Canadian from Nova Scotia dazzled and dominated on the ice — often facing racism on and off the ice….
An inspiring memoir that shows that anyone can achieve their dreams if they are willing to fight for them. In 1958, Willie O’Ree was a lot like any other player toiling in the minors, waiting for his chance to play in the best hockey league in the world. He’d grown up playing in small towns,…
Those who have been lured by the sound of skate blades slicing into fresh ice, by the incomparable speed, split-second decisions, and everything-or-nothing attitude of the game know that hockey can seem like its own world. It’s all-consuming and exhilarating, boasting its own language and complex morality code. Yet in another light, that tight community…
Things have never been better for black players in professional hockey. In 2002, Jarome Iginla became the first black scoring champion in the National Hockey League. In May 2003, Anson Carter scored the game-winning goal for Canada in the gold-medal game of the World Hockey Championship. And in November former Edmonton Oilers goaltending great Grant…
The history of hockey is the story of human cultural interaction and geographic migration. It is a game that spread worldwide from its original home in ancient Mesopotamia, along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, moving over the centuries across much of the ancient and modern world. As human society developed, the game…
Revised and updated with commentary from Bernice Carnegie, Herb’s daughter, and life lessons passed from father to daughter Herbert Carnegie was the complete hockey package in the 1940s and 1950s. Though his contributions to society both in sport and education have been referenced and profiled in books, documentaries, and thousands of articles, this is Carnegie’s…
Like other competitive sports, hockey in Canada as well as the United States has not always responded well to diversity and social change. Sadly, the uncomfortable truth is that racism in hockey exists, just as it does in the rest of our respective societies. It has been and continues to be the “ugly underbelly” of…
While hockey organizations can be diverse in many ways in terms of their members, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have created an inclusive environment. Put simply, diversity is the mix, whereas inclusion involves bringing together and harnessing diverse forces and resources in a way that is beneficial to the organization.
By all accounts, hockey is more than just a game; it’s a microcosm of society. Judging from the racial incidents reported in the media in recent months, racism still remains an issue in hockey, just as it does in the rest of society.