February 28th, 2023,

As Black History Month comes to a close, we wanted to take the time to celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations who have broken barriers, blazed trails, and made tomorrow better than today for future generations of Black hockey players.

A little history lesson

1895 – 1925: The Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes was founded in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1895. The all-Black men’s hockey league drew in hundreds of players, iced over 12 teams, and was the place of inception for the slapshot, and knee-dropping goalie saves.

January 18, 1958: Willie O’Ree broke the colour barrier in the NHL when he stepped onto the ice with the Boston Bruins, as the first Black hockey player in the League.

May 31, 1974: Mike Marson became the first Black player to be drafted to the NHL when he was selected 19th overall by the Washington Capitals.

November 1, 1981: Val James became the first American-born Black player to play in the NHL when he hit the ice with the Buffalo Sabres.

May 19, 1984: Grant Fuhr became the first Black player and goalie to win the Stanley Cup when he helped the Edmonton Oilers to secure the Cup.

January 21, 1989: Dirk Graham became the first Black player to wear the ‘C’ when he earned the captain title with the Chicago Blackhawks.

June 29, 1998: Dirk Graham became the first Black head coach in the NHL when he joined the Chicago Blackhawks’ coaching team.

February 24, 2002: Jarome Iginla became the first Black hockey player to win Olympic gold when Canada beat the U.S. in the 2002 Olympics.

June 27, 2002: Jarome Iginla became the first Black player to be awarded as the ‘Most Outstanding Player’ and received the Lester B. Pearson Award (renamed as the Ted Lindsay Award). Iginla was also the first Black player to receive the Art Ross Trophy, and the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy.

November 3, 2003: Grant Fuhr became the first Black player and goalie to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

June 24, 2006: Anthony and Chris Stewart became the first Black siblings to be drafted in the first round of NHL drafts. Anthony was drafted 25th overall to the Florida Panthers in the 2003 NHL Draft. Chris was drafted 18th overall to the Colorado Avalanche in 2006.

November 8, 2010: Angela James became the first Black woman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

June 15, 2013: P.K. Subban became the first Black defenseman to win the Norris Trophy.

October 11, 2015: Blake Bolden became the first Black hockey player to play in the NWHL when she laced up for the Boston Pride.

February 14, 2018: Jordan Greenway became the first Black player to compete for Team USA in the Winter Olympics.

February 2020: Blake Bolden became the first Black woman to be hired as a pro scout in the NHL when she signed with the Los Angeles Kings.

October 6, 2020: Quinton Byfield became the highest drafted Black player in NHL history when he was drafted 2nd overall to the Los Angeles Kings.

Celebrating Black Excellence

Hockey as we know it wouldn’t be possible without these courageous individuals who faced tremendous adversity, and hardships to grow the game we love. Though this is a small snapshot of Black history in and around the NHL, we celebrate and honour all those who have, and continue to blaze a trail for Black inclusivity in hockey.

However, there is always more that can be done. For more information and education, please visit https://www.nhl.com/fans/black-hockey-history.

Celebrating Our Black NHL Alumni

• Willie O’Ree
• Mike Marson
• Bill Riley
• Tony McKegney
• Bernie Saunders
• Ray Neufeld
• Val James
• Grant Fuhr
• Brian Johnson
• Darren Lowe
• Dirk Graham
• Pokey Reddick
• Steven Fletcher
• Claude Vilgrain
• Paul Jerrard
• Mike McHugh
• Graeme Townshend
• Reggie Savage
• Dale Craigwell
• Darren Banks
• Nathan LaFayette
• Fred Brathwaite
• Sandy McCarthy
• Donald Brashear
• Craig Martin
• Joaquin Gage
• Jason Doig
• Jarome Iginla
• John Craighead
• Rumun Ndur
• Sean Brown
• Anson Carter
• Mike Grier
• Jamal Mayers
• Peter Worrell
• Kevin Weekes
• Georges Laraque
• Tyrone Garner
• Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre
• Francis Bouillon
• Bryce Salvador
• Sean McMorrow
• Ray Emery
• Nathan Robinson
• Greg Mauldin
• Trevor Daley
• Gerald Coleman
• Anthony Stewart
• Dustin Byfuglien
• Shawn Belle
• Nigel Dawes
• Mark Fraser
• Johnny Oduya
• Joel Ward
• Chris Beckford-Tseu
• Robbie Earl
• Theo Peckham
• Andre Deveaux
• Kenndal McArdle
• Derek Joslin
• Paul Bissonnette
• Chris Stewart
• Maxime Fortunus
• P.K. Subban
• Akim Aliu
• J.T. Brown
• Devante Smith-Pelly
• Emerson Etem
• Justin Johnson