Postage stamp to honour Willie O’Ree

Postage stamp to honour Willie O’Ree

A Canadian postage stamp to honour Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first Black player, will be unveiled in Edmonton on Saturday as part of the Heritage Classsic festivities. The stamp will be officially issued on Monday. O’Ree made his NHL debut with Boston on Jan. 18, 1958, and played two games with the Bruins that season. […]

Donovan Bailey joins bid to buy Ottawa Senators

Donovan Bailey joins bid to buy Ottawa Senators

Donovan Bailey, the last Canadian man to win Olympic gold in the 100-metre dash, says he’s joined one of the bids to purchase the Ottawa Senators. Bailey tweeted Friday that he’d joined the bid led by Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks and rapper Snoop Dogg to buy the NHL club. “I know for a fact […]

Black Ice offers a look at a troubling chapter in Canadian hockey history  

Black Ice offers a look at a troubling chapter in Canadian hockey history  

Black Ice is a worthwhile ice-breaker By Aparita Bhandari The new documentary Black Ice examines the role of Black players in Canadian hockey, from pre-NHL contributions to the game to the struggles against racism that continue to this day. Directed by Hubert Davis and executive produced by LeBron James, Drake, and Maverick Carter, Black Ice […]

Larger-than-life painting of Willie O’Ree to be unveiled in Frederick art gallery

Larger-than-life painting of Willie O’Ree to be unveiled in Frederick art gallery

One of Fredericton’s most famous figures will have a special place on the walls of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery for years to come. Willie O’Ree — who became the first Black man to play in the NHL when he laced up for the Boston Bruins in 1958 — is the subject of a portrait expected to be […]

Retired Ontario Judge and Olympian Hugh Fraser named to Hockey Canada board

Retired Ontario Judge and Olympian Hugh Fraser named to Hockey Canada board

By Lincoln DePradine Jamaican-born Hugh L. Fraser, a former Canadian Olympic sprinter and retired Ontario judge, has been asked to take a lead role in fixing embattled Hockey Canada, which has had its access to public funds frozen, and sponsors such as Nike, Tim Hortons and Scotiabank have ended or suspended commercial relationships with the […]

Canada acknowledges pioneers who broke NHL racial barriers

Canada acknowledges pioneers who broke NHL racial barriers

Considered “an event of national historic significance in Canada” Representatives from the federal government formally recognized multiple trailblazing players at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto Wednesday, marking the breaking of racial barriers in the NHL as an event of national historic significance in Canada.  Five players — Paul Jacobs, Henry “Elmer” Maracle, Larry Kwong, Fred Sasakamoose, and […]

P.K. Subban joins ESPN TV hockey team

P.K. Subban joins ESPN TV hockey team

P.K. Subban has become a full-time member of ESPN’s hockey team after contributing during last season’s Stanley Cup playoff coverage. Subban, who retired in September, has signed a three-year agreement with ESPN. He will work mainly as a studio analyst but will handle some games during the season. “I’ve known for a few weeks now. […]

Black drag performer hired to teach respect in hockey

Black drag performer hired to teach respect in hockey

When Hockey New Brunswick started tracking all complaints of discrimination last year, organizers expected to get just a few.  Instead, 29 allegations were investigated, resulting in 15 players being suspended for a minimum of five games, and up to as many as 20.  Executive director Nic Jansen said this was a sign the organization — the […]

P.K. Subban retires from hockey

P.K. Subban retires from hockey

Veteran defenseman Pernell Karl Subban announced his retirement from hockey on Tuesday after 13 seasons in the NHL. He is one of five children of Jamaican immigrants Karl and Maria Subban. His brothers –Malcolm and Jordan – are professional hockey players. Malcom is a goaltender with the Sabres and Jordan, who has played in the […]

Herb Carnegie inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

Herb Carnegie inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

Herb Carnegie is regularly considered the best Black hockey player to never play in the NHL. Bоrn іn Tоrоntо, Ontario оn Nоvеmbеr 8, 1919, Hеrb grеw uр lіѕtеnіng to ‘Hockey Nіght іn Cаnаdа,’ dreaming оf one dау fоllоwіng hіѕ Tоrоntо Maple Lеаfѕ hеrоеѕ tо thе NHL. But аѕ thе son of Jаmаісаn іmmіgrаntѕ, thе раth […]