Black Players in the NHL

Friday February 15, 2008 @ 03:52 AM EST

In honor of Black History Month,I’m gonna take ya skool!
We are going learn about Black NHL players,past and present and their accomplishments,and fulfillment of the wonderful sprot of hockey!
Enjoy!
DONALD BRASHEAR

Born January 7, 1972 in Bedford, Indiana, U.S.Is an American-Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals. He also played for the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers.
Brashear started his NHL career when the Montreal Canadiens signed him as a free agent in 1992. He has played for the Montreal Canadiens, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Philadelphia Flyers, primarily being known as one of the NHL’s top enforcers throughout his career. Brashear also ranks high in penalty minutes. He has trained with boxing legend Joe Frazier as well as legendary UFC Champion James “Hoss” Skelton.
Donald Brashear is also an accomplished pianist,and does amatuer boxing.
FRANCIS BOUILLLON

born October 17, 1975 in New York City) is a professional hockey defenceman. Bouillon was born to a French Canadian mother and a Haitian father. He currently plays for the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens.
He was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens in 1998 with which he has played most of his career (except for a short stint with the Nashville Predators in 2002-2003). At 5’9” and 201 lbs, Bouillon is considered small for an NHL defencemen but is never one to shy away from physical play.
DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN

BORN March 27, 1985 in Roseau, MinnesotA is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays defense for the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks. He was drafted by the Blackhawks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was the chosen 245th overall in the 8th round.
Byfuglien’s last name is pronounced BUHF-lihn.
TREVOR DALEY

Born October 9, 1983 in Toronto, Ontario is a Canadian professional ice hockey player.
Daley was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, 43rd overall, in the second round. A defenseman, he played for the Stars in 81 games during the 2005-06 season and was named to the Canadian squad for the 2006 World Championships. He is playing regularly for the Stars in the 2006-07 season.
NIGEL DAWES

born February 9, 1985 in Winnipeg, Manitoba is a Canadian ice hockey left winger currently playing in the New York Rangers organization. Nigel, a native of Canada, is of Jamaican descent. His mother is Canadian and his father is Jamaican.
Dawes scored his first NHL goal against Andrew Raycroft on October 21, 2006 in the Rangers 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dawes recorded his first NHL assist on a goal by Brandon Dubinsky against Marc-Andre Fleury, that goal being Dubinsky’s first NHL goal, on November 08, 2007 in the Rangers 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
ROBBIE EARL

born June 2, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois is a hockey player currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Earl’s career began in 2003/04, reaching a career low of only 27 points, in the most games he had ever amassed in a year. However, he still led the team in the scoring category. He was also honoured to make the All-Rookie Team, tallying six power-play goals and three game winning goals that year. His first hat trick came in overtime against the league-leading North Dakota. Along with Insidecollegehockey.com’s National Player of the Week award, he was congratulated with the WCHA Rookie of the Week award to end his freshman campaign.
Earl played one game during the 2005-06 regular season and three in the playoffs without registering any points or penalties. The following year, he scored 12 goals and 18 assists and racked up 50 penalty minutes in 67 games.
MIKE GRIER

Born January 5, 1975 in Detroit, Michigan is a National Hockey League forward for the San Jose Sharks, and one of the most prominent African-American players in the NHL.
Grier was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the ninth round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, and was considered a long-shot to make an NHL team. He spent his early playing days with Saint Sebastian’s School and then later Boston University, culminating in his best amateur season in 1994-1995, where he was named a first team all-star. During his time at BU, Grier’s NHL rights were dealt to the Edmonton Oilers along with star goaltender Curtis Joseph in exchange for a pair of first round picks.
After leaving college, Grier immediately cracked the Oilers lineup as a checking-line right-winger, scoring 32 points and bearing a respectable +7 +/- rating. He would go on to play six seasons with the Oiler’s organization, including two where he scored twenty goals.
During his time in Edmonton, Grier was best known for provoking Chris Simon of the Washington Capitals in 1997.
Although the following season was cancelled due to the NHL lockout, in 2005 Grier signed a one-year contract with the Sabres for 1.4 million dollars. Grier played in 81 games for the Sabres in that season and recorded 7 goals and 16 assists for 23 points while also scoring a career-high four game-winning goals. He also scored 3 goals for a total of 5 points in 18 post-season games as well.
During the off-season following the 2005-06 NHL season, Grier became an unrestricted free agent and signed a 3 year, 5.325 million dollar contract with the San Jose Sharks. He expressed the excitement he had to play for such a classy organization, and listed San Jose as his number one choice among the eight teams that attempted to sign him. The contract has a no-trade clause.
JEROME IGINLA

Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla was born July 1, 1977 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Iginla played 3 seasons in the Western Hockey League and won two Memorial Cups with the Kamloops Blazers. He was picked in the first round (11th overall) by the Dallas Stars in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, then traded with Corey Millen to the Flames for Joe Nieuwendyk. Iginla’s best season was 2001-02 when he had 96 points and 52 goals, becoming the first player of African descent in history to win the regular season goal and point scoring titles. He also won the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league’s best player as voted by his peers, and was a nominee for both the Hart Trophy (narrowly beaten by then-Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore) and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. Iginla was also a key member of Canada’s Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team in 2002. This season elevated him to superstar status and he became a fan favourite. Jarome is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league today.
Iginla was named captain of the Calgary Flames in October 2003, making him the second player of African descent to be named captain of an NHL team (Dirk Graham of the Chicago Blackhawks was the first). In the 2003-04 NHL season, he scored 41 goals, sharing the goal-scoring title with Ilya Kovalchuk and Rick Nash. On May 19, 2004, Iginla scored his 10th playoff goal to help the Flames advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals in 15 years. He recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick (a goal, an assist, and a fight) in Game 3 of the Finals when he fought and took down Vincent Lecavalier. However, the Flames eventually lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
Since becoming an NHL all-star, Iginla has entered into several endorsement contracts with various companies.One of his most prominent corporate relationships is with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Iginla also supports many charities, including Cure for Cancer and KidSport. In 2004 he was awarded the NHL Foundation Award for Community Service as well as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in recognition of his humanitarian contributions. Iginla played in the 2006 Winter Olympics, where he was one of Team Canada’s alternate captains. On December 7, 2006 Iginla made a milestone mark in his career where he scored his 300th career goal and 600th Career point. He would have been named to the 2007 NHL All Star team in Dallas along with teammates Dion Phaneuf and Miikka Kiprusoff, however his knee injury kept him out of the game. In 2008 he was voted to the starting line-up of the 2008 NHL All Star game, along with Dion Phaneuf.He was named the captain of Western All Star Team.
GEORGES LARAQUE

Born 7 December 1976 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After finishing junior, Laraque spent parts of three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Despite concerns about his skating, Laraque showed enough at the AHL-level for Edmonton to bring him to the NHL. Although he was something of a power forward in junior, Laraque is considered primarily as an enforcer at the NHL level. His 6’3” frame and his habit of fighting made him one of the most feared forwards in the league (in terms of checking and fighting). He was unanimously awarded the ‘Best Fighter’ award from The Hockey News in 2003. Despite his reputation as a fighting-only player, Laraque has had offensive bursts during his career and on February 22, 2000, Laraque scored a hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings.
During the NHL lockout, he played in Sweden, signing on with AIK Stockholm. In the 2006 off season, Laraque was up for free agency and wanted to stay in Edmonton and play. He even said he was willing to take a salary cut if the Oilers accepted on giving him a long-term, no trade clause deal. The Oilers did not agree with Laraque’s demand for a no trade clause thus the contract was never signed. On July 5, 2006, Laraque signed with the Phoenix Coyotes. He scored his first goal as a Phoenix Coyote against Edmonton on October 26, 2006.
JAMAL MAYERS

BornOctober 24, 1974 in Toronto, Ontario is roward on the St. Louis Blues. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He was chosen 89th overall in the 4th round.
He was a member of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4-2 win against Finland in Moscow.
JOHNNY ADUYA

Born October 1, 1981 in Stockholm, Sweden plays for the New Jersey Devils.
Many expected him to be a minor league player, who maybe would get occasional ice-time in the Devils. When several of the Devils’ defenders were injured, Oduya got a spot in the lineup. He played surprisingly well in the NHL, sometimes playing around twenty minutes a game, and played in virtually every Devils game that season except for a few that he missed because of a mid-season injury. However, in the playoffs he wasn’t even at the bench when the Devils were defeated in the second round. His benching came mostly from the great play of Andy Greene, who got called up toward the end of the season. He became a good offensive defenseman, and took Oduya out of the lineup after Colin White’s injury healed.
On February 9, 2008 while playing for the Devils in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Oduya scored a rare coast to coast goal when he picked up a loose puck behind the goal line in the defensive zone and skated up ice through the Hurricanes’ defense, made a move to the left of goalie Cam Ward, and scored
BRYCE SALVADOR

born February 11, 1976,currently plays for the St. Louis Blues of the NHL.
Salvador was drafted in the 6th round, 138th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.
ANTHONY STEWART

Born January 5, 1985 in LaSalle, Quebec, Canada
He is 6’1”, 225 lbs, shoots right and plays Right Wing for the Florida Panthers of the NHL. He was drafted by the Panthers in the first round, 25th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Anthony’s younger brother Chris is a player with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, and was drafted by The Colorado Avalanche 18th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
RAY EMERY

Born September 28, 1982 in Hamilton, Ontario,plays for the Ottawa Senators.
Emery is recognized for getting into numerous on-ice altercations, a rarity for an ice hockey goaltender.
Emery has played in numerous leagues, including the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), American Hockey League (AHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL). He was chosen 99th overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft. He spent three seasons in the AHL. During the 2006–07 season, Emery was the starting goaltender for the Ottawa Senators in their run to the Stanley Cup finals.
KEVIN WEEKES

Born 4 April 1975 in Toronto.Currently plays for the New Jersey Devils.
He signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent prior to the 2004-05 NHL lockout, winning his first start with the Rangers on 5 October 2005 in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He became an unrestricted free agent following a less than stellar 2006-07 season. On July 5, 2007 he signed with the New Jersey Devils to serve as a backup to Martin Brodeur.
THE REITIRED GREATS
GRANT FUHR

Grant Fuhr was born in Spruce Grove, Alberta, located just outside the city of Edmonton where he would star for so many years. Fuhr starred with the WHL’s Victoria Cougars for two seasons and was a First Team All-Star both years (1980 and 1981). Grant was drafted in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.
Retired goaltender Grant Fuhr is considered to be the most successful black player in the history of the sport. The backbone of the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers of the late 1980s, Fuhr currently stands in ninth place in all-time wins for goalies and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. His success has paved the way for other black goalies like Kevin Weekes, now with the New York Rangers.
Fittingly, in Fuhr’s first year of eligibility, he was selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.
ANSON CARTER

Born June 6, 1974 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Carter was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, 10th round, 220th overall, after starring at Michigan State University. He has previously played for the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Los Angeles Kings. He was traded to New York, along with Ales Pisa, in 2003 for Radek Dvorak and Cory Cross. This was only the first of several moves for Carter as the next year he was sent to Washington as part of the Jaromir Jagr deal.
On August 16, 2005, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks for the 2005-06 Season for a 1-year deal worth $1 million. He played in Vancouver on the second offensive line with identical twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin, where the trio were sometimes known colloquially as the Brothers Line. He scored a career high 33 goals in his 2005-2006 NHL season with the Vancouver Canucks.
On September 13, 2006, he signed a one year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets
On January 30, 2007 against the Vancouver Canucks he scored his 200th career goal.
On February 23, 2007, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2008 5th-round draft pick.
On September 16, 2007, as an UFA, Carter played in the Edmonton Oilers annual pre-season exhibition match. He was given an opportunity to re-join the Oilers on a try-out basis. He continued to play with the Oilers through the pre-season NHL matches.
On October 2, 2007, Carter was released from the Edmonton Oilers.
On November 5, 2007, he signed a one year deal with the swiss elite league club HC Lugano
WILLIE O’REE

Born October 15, 1935, in Fredericton, New Brunswick.He is frequently but erroneously referred to as the first African American player, though he is in fact Canadian of African descent. Additionally O’Ree is referred to as the Jackie Robinson of ice hockey due to breaking the colour barrier in the sport.
Midway through his second minor-league season with the Quebec Aces, O’Ree was called up to the Boston Bruins of the NHL to replace an injured player. O’Ree was 95% blind in his right eye due to being hit there by an errant puck two years earlier, which normally would have precluded him from playing in the NHL. However, O’Ree managed to keep it secret, and made his NHL debut with the Bruins on January 18, 1958, against the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the first black player in league history. He played in only two games that year, and came back in 1961 to play 43 games. He scored four goals and 10 assists in his NHL career, all in 1961.
After O’Ree, there was no other black player in the NHL until fellow Canadian Mike Marson was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1974. There are 17 black players in the NHL as of the mid-2000s, the most prominent including Canadians Jarome Iginla and Anson Carter and American Mike Grier (who is curently on the San Jose Sharks). NHL players are now required to enroll in a diversity training seminar before each season, and racially based verbal abuse is punished through suspensions and fines.
O’Ree was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. He later became the Director of Youth Development for the NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force, a non-profit program for minority youth that encourages them to learn and play hockey. As of the mid-2000s, O’Ree lives in Berkeley, California
THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!,FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND VOTES!
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