Abstract:
This thesis describes the history of discrimination encountered by Black hockey players in the National Hockey League. Hockey’s history of racial discrimination is substantial, yet the sport’s popularity, when compared to professional baseball, basketball, or football, has relegated the conversation to a status deemed less important. Allowing player stories to be dismissed as insignificant is dangerous to the diversity in the game. Because sports serve as a reflection of society, this negligence can ripple outward, impacting lives outside of sport as well. This thesis was designed to serve as a platform for players to tell their stories; and in doing so, this research will serve as an instrument of change in the conversation of acceptance and diversification in hockey.
