Black hockey players look to more Blacks for fan support

Jet, Nov 10, 2003

Imagine: You chase a 2 1/2 inch solid chunk of rubber that blurs by at high velocity. You do not have the option of using your hands to easily place the object where you want to score--you have to use a stick. On top of this, you are forced to be immensely coordinated because you are skating on ice--very quickly!

This is their sport. The sport where checking is as much a part of the game as scoring goals. The Black players of the National Hockey League (NHL) are passionate about this sport, and have begun this season in high-flying roles and want to generate more interest and support from Black fans.

Some of the NHL's best players are Black. Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla began this season as the first-ever Black captain of an NHL team. On November 3, Grant Fuhr will be the first Black player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Willie O'Ree helped pave the way for these stars--on Jan. 15, 1958, O'Ree made history as the NHL's first Black player in the league. Now, O'Ree, the director of Youth Development for NHL Diversity, beams with pride when he hears of the success of these players. The pioneer wants to continue diversifying the league and its fans. The NHL currently has 14 Black players on NHL team rosters, which ranks last in terms of minority players among the four major pro sports.

One of the league's brightest stars, Anson Carter, a right wing for the New York Rangers, made a cameo on the sitcom "Whoopi" to boost fan interest. Academy Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg has been a longtime, die-hard hockey fan, who is a fixture at the Stanley Cup Finals every year.

"The game itself hasn't changed (that much)," said Carter. "I think what has changed most is we're seeing more minority players playing prominent roles on their respective teams. That by itself will help generate more interest among people who aren't 'traditional' fans or even players."

Carter, a Michigan State alumnus, is playing his eighth NHL season. The Toronto native scored 26 goals, 60 points and 10 power play goals last season, where he played as an Edmonton Offer before he was traded to the Rangers in March. In July, Carter received the key to the city of Toronto after his overtime goal won the gold medal for Canada at the world hockey championship.

The fan-friendly, All-Star Iginla captured the league scoring title with 52 goals and 96 points afar the 200102 season (JET, May 6, 2002). This breakthrough season also won him the league's most outstanding player award. The Edmonton native is a dedicated team leader and scorer, leading the Flames in goals for the past three-straight seasons.

At the 2002 Winter Games, Iginla seized the spotlight by recording two goals and an assist in Canada's 5-2 victory to win the gold medal for the first time in 50 years. In his eighth season, Iginla, whose father is from Nigeria, is focusing on team success and leading Calgary to the playoffs.

Having been in the NHL for seven seasons, Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Kevin Weekes still welcomes the challenges of his position. Last year he recorded a career-high five shut-outs that won him a starting position this season, which he began with a record of 14-24-9.

Weekes, a Toronto native whose parents hail from Barbados, is one of the players who is an ambassador for NHL Diversity, the league's non-profit arm that brings hockey to economically disadvantaged communities. The 6-foot, 195-pounder is relatively large, but still has cat-like skills. He is one of the quickest goalies between the pipes and in the crease.

Columbus Blue Jackets Fred Brathwaite, the only other Black goalie in the NHL, is playing his ninth season. His amazing energy and ability to outthink an offender has kept him on the league's radar of feared goalies.

In his sixth NHL season, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Brathwaite's teammate, is a right wing on the checking line for the team. The Montreal native was limited to 41 games last year because of injuries, but started fresh this season and looks to play an important role for the Blue Jackets.

Washington Capitals right wing Mike Grier was one of only five players to play every game of last season with the team, recording 15 goals and 17 assists. The Detroit native, who helped Boston University to the NCAA Championship in 1994-95, is playing in his eighth season.

Peter Worrell, Colorado Avalanche right wing, is one of hockey's chief enforcers. At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, the giant enjoys giving his team momentum boosts by scrapping with defenders. The seven-year veteran posted two goals and three assists last season with the Florida Panthers.

The Indiana-born Donald Brashear is a left wing for the Philadelphia Flyers. Brashear maintains a tough work ethic and last season, his 10th in the NHL, his teammates awarded him the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the most improved player. During the 2001-02 season, he set a career high of 32 points in a season.

Sandy McCarthy is playing his first season with the Boston Bruins. Prior to this, he spent the last three with the New York Rangers where he was the only member who played all 82 games last year. Enduring cuts and bruises as a right wing, the 31-year-old McCarthy continues to stay tough in his 11th NHL season.