TheColorOfHockey

~ Hockey for Fans and Players of Color

TheColorOfHockey

Monthly Archives: November 2016

From crying goalie to bench boss, meet Detroit’s Jason McCrimmon

23 Wednesday Nov 2016

Posted by William Douglas in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amherst College, Cameron Burt, Detroit, Detroit Hockey Association, Jason McCrimmon, Tarasai Karega, University of Massachusetts-Boston

Jason McCrimmon wasn’t feeling it.

His mother enrolled him in a Detroit ice hockey program, but the-then three-year-old McCrimmon was hardly enthused about his visits to chilly Jack Adams Arena .

“My brothers played – I hated it,” McCrimmon told me recently. “I used to cry the whole time. It was cold, I started out as a goalie. I’m standing in one spot, I’m cold, my feet hurt.”

McCrimmon eventually got out of the net to play forward and defense. He developed into a player, and a pretty good one, too. Still, he quit the sport at 16, opting to do what teenagers like to do.

But an epiphany brought him back to frozen pond.

Motor City Hawks Head Coach/Co-Owner Jason McCrimmon working the bench during a USPHL's game.

Motor City Hawks Head Coach/Co-Owner Jason McCrimmon working the bench during a USPHL’s game.

“My father passed away when I was 18. He was the guy that if I scored two goals ‘Why didn’t you have three?’” he said. “I used to hate for him to come to the games. I had a dream when I was 20 years old. He told me to get back into the game.”

Today, the kid who used to cry in goal now barks orders from behind the bench as head coach and part owner of the Motor City Hawks of the U.S. Premier Hockey League, a Tier III junior league where players showcase their talents for college or major junior hockey programs.

McCrimmon is a double-rarity – one of the few black head coaches and team owners in hockey at any level.

He’s part of a small class that includes David L. Steward, a part owner of the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues; Khalil Thomas, head coach, general manager, and co-owner of the Oshawa RiverKings of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League in Canada; and Darren Lowe , who’s in his 22nd season as head coach of the University of Toronto’s men’s hockey team.

McCrimmon is also president and founder of  Detroit Ice Dreams, a non-profit organization that tries to increase minority participation in hockey and figure skating by lowering the main barriers to the sports – access and cost.

Flint Firebirds defenseman Jalen Smereck, Detroit native, works out with Jason McCrimmon during the summer. Smereck thinks McCrimmon is college or major junior coaching material (Photo/Aaron Bell/OHL Images).

Flint Firebirds defenseman Jalen Smereck, Detroit native, works out with Jason McCrimmon during the summer. Smereck thinks McCrimmon is college or major junior coaching material (Photo/Aaron Bell/OHL Images).

After having that dream about his tough-love hockey dad, McCrimmon contacted the coaches of the Belle Tire’s junior hockey program to ask for a tryout and a path back into the game.

That began a hockey journey that included stops at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, the Mississippi RiverKings of the old Central Hockey League, the Flint Generals of the defunct International Hockey League, and  Hela-Kieko in Finland, where McCrimmon was a high-scoring defenseman and team captain.

Detroit is known for building cars. But the Motor City is also gaining a reputation for building black successful hockey players.

McCrimmon has played with, against, or coached the likes of defenseman Cameron Burt, a former Rochester Institute of Technology star who’s currently skating for Starbulls Rosenheim in Germany and Tarasai Karega, a former Ms. Michigan hockey  award winner who went onto become one of the first black women to win an NCAA hockey title while playing for Amherst College.

“She was one of the best players to come out of the Detroit Hockey Association  – period,” McCrimmon said. “She’s very dangerous. When I played at UMass-Boston, we used to play Amherst. We came down for a two-night series against their male team and I saw her play. She was literally tearing apart the league.”

Motor City Hawks Head Coach/Co-Owner Jason McCrimmon (center) with Hawks forward Justin Session (left) and Flint Firebirds defenseman Jalen Smereck (right), an Arizona Coyotes signee.

Motor City Hawks Head Coach/Co-Owner Jason McCrimmon (center) with Hawks forward Justin Session (left) and Flint Firebirds defenseman Jalen Smereck (right), an Arizona Coyotes signee.

During hockey’s off-season, McCrimmon trains Jalen Smereck, a fellow Detroit native who’s a defenseman for the Ontario Hockey League’s  Flint Firebirds. Smereck recently signed a three-year entry level deal with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.

“Having grown up in Detroit, he’s pretty hard on us, making sure we’re always on top of our business and also making sure we as teenagers and young adults come back to help the young kids, teach them how we were taught,” Smereck told me recently. “I definitely think he’d be a good coach at a higher level, not only because he played at a pretty high level, but the way that he coaches, his love for the game, his care for the game. I think he can take players a long way.”

But McCrimmon isn’t thinking about going anywhere right now. There’s too much to do in Motown.

“I’ve had opportunities in the last two years, probably a total of seven different colleges,” he said. “I love being here in Detroit , I’m happy what I’m doing. I want to expand the Motor City Hawks as well as expand our non-profit Ice Dreams. Whatever comes from there, if I get something big that I can’t turn down, we’ll cross that bridge when it happens.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Telegram
  • WhatsApp
  • Skype

Like this:

Like Loading...

Snider Hockey and Ice Hockey in Harlem face off in a grudge match for good causes

18 Friday Nov 2016

Posted by William Douglas in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, Hockey is for Everyone, Ice Hockey in Harlem, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers

It’s that time of year again.

Time for turkey and stuffing. It’s also time for the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers to beat the stuffing out of each other in a National Hockey League Metropolitan Division matinee the day after Thanksgiving at Philly’s Wells Fargo Center.

The Philadelphia-New York rivalry won’t be limited to the ice that Friday. Philly’s Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation and New York’s Ice Hockey in Harlem will use the game to face off in a grudge match of their own- for good causes.

Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation players hope to win the #GiveTuesday challenge against Ice Hockey in Harlem - and avoid having to wear New York Rangers gear.

Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation players hope to win the #GiveTuesday challenge against Ice Hockey in Harlem – and avoid having to wear New York Rangers gear.

The two mostly-minority youth hockey organizations will engage in a head-to-head  fund-raising battle when the Flyers-Rangers puck drops at 1 p.m. EST on the 25th.

The competition is in recognition of #GiveTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generosity worldwide.

Folks interested in participating in the challenge can do so by visiting the respective websites of Snider Hockey – www.sniderhockey.org – and Ice Hockey in Harlem  – www.icehockeyinharlem.org – to make contributions online. Donations can also be done by mail or in person.

For Snider Hockey and Ice Hockey in Harlem – both nonprofits – it’s about helping to keep two successful youth hockey programs running.

For the kids, the challenge is about bragging rights.The organization that raises the most money will be crowned #FaceOffChamps.

Skaters from Ice Hockey in Harlem look to defeat Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation players in the #GiveTuesday challenge.

Skaters from Ice Hockey in Harlem look to defeat Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation players in the #GiveTuesday challenge.

If Snider Hockey wins, a group of players from Ice Hockey in Harlem must wear Flyers T-shirts while sharing ‘Ice Hockey in Harlem LOVES the Philadelphia Flyers’ on IHIH’s social media pages.

Should Ice Hockey in Harlem win, Snider Hockey students must share their love for the Rangers on Snider Hockey’s social media pages while sporting Rangers gear.

“The real winners of this friendly competition will be the boys and girls of both programs who, through hockey, are learning life lessons and how to succeed in the game of life,” said Snider Hockey President Scott Tharp.

IHIH will take on @SniderHockey in a #FaceOffFundraiser!
Start: Rangers/Flyers Game 1pm 11/25
End: 11:59pm on #GivingTuesday 11/29#GoBlue! pic.twitter.com/Sqo5O8STvj

— Ice Hockey in Harlem (@HockeyinHarlem) November 16, 2016

Ice Hockey in Harlem Executive Director John Sanful agreed.

“Snider Hockey and Ice Hockey in Harlem are committed to improving the social and academic well-being of children through the sport of ice hockey,” Sanful said. “This initiative will positively impact many deserving boys and girls.”

The two programs are part of “Hockey is for Everyone,” an NHL initiative that provides support and unique programming to some 40 nonprofit youth hockey organizations across North America.

It offers children of all backgrounds the opportunity and access to learn to play hockey at little or no cost.

People wishing to make donations or pledges to Ice Hockey in Harlem for the #GiveTuesday challenge can do so online or send donations to the attention of  Ice Hockey in Harlem Executive Director John Sanful, 127 West 127th Street, Suite 415, New York, New York, 10027.

Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation supporters can make donations or pledges online, a dated check by mail, or by contacting Snider Hockey Development Staff at 215-952-4125. Flyers game attendees can also drop off donations at the Snider Hockey kiosk outside of section 108 during the hours of the competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Telegram
  • WhatsApp
  • Skype

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sarah hits 100 – another Nurse family sports milestone

07 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by William Douglas in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Darnell Nurse, Edmonton Oilers, Kia Nurse, University of Connecticut, University of Wisconsin

U of Wisconsin and Team Canada forward Sarah Nurse (Photo/Hockey Canada).

U of Wisconsin and Team Canada forward Sarah Nurse (Photo/Hockey Canada).

Congratulations to University of Wisconsin women’s hockey forward Sarah Nurse for reaching the 100-point mark in her collegiate career.

She achieved the milestone on a third-period goal that helped cement the Badgers’ 6-0 win over Bemidji State University in Madison, Wis., Sunday. It was Nurse’s second goal of the game and her 11th of the 2016-17 season.

“It’s a pretty cool accomplishment, it was actually really cool that (Wisconsin senior forward Sydney McKibbon) made that pass out to me, I think that brought it all back to where it kind of all started, so I think that was really cool,” Nurse said after the game.”

Nurse, the Badgers’ leading scorer this season,  is the 22nd player in the university’s history to tally 100 points. While getting into the history books is nice, Nurse said there’s one achievement that matters more to her: winning an NCAA hockey championship.

Here's a look at @nursey16's second goal of the afternoon pic.twitter.com/axYXFJwCSq

— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) November 6, 2016

“This is my last year, so I kind of wanted to come in and have a big impact on this team,” she said. “I want to ultimately win the big title at the end of the year. I came into this season with a lot of confidence.”

Nurse is the cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse and Kia Nurse, a  star guard for the 2015 and 2016 NCAA champion University of Connecticut women’s basketball team and a member of Canada’s women’s hoops squad that competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

She’s also the niece of former National Football League quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Nurse was a co-captain for Canada’s U-22 squad that played a mini-series against the United States in August. The Hamilton, Ont., native led Wisconsin’s women’s team in scoring last season with 25 goals and 13 assists in 36 games.

.@adesbiens30 wasn't the only Badger to make history today!

Congrats to #Badgers @nursey16 on joining the 💯-point club! pic.twitter.com/IYNP4Z5K1k

— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) November 6, 2016

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Telegram
  • WhatsApp
  • Skype

Like this:

Like Loading...

Blue Jackets’ Tortorella calls Blues’ Reaves ‘that animal,’ a slur or just words?

06 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by William Douglas in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Once again, Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach John Tortorella’s mouth has served as a diving board that’s plunged him into the deep waters of race.

St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves.

St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves.

The fiery coach was displeased with his team’s effort in a 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues Saturday night.

He called out his players for their performance but he also had a curious choice of words in describing Blues tough guy forward Ryan Reaves, who fought Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno in the second period.

“I watched Nick Foligno fight that animal,” Tortorella told reporters after the game.

 

Tortorella may know hockey but he apparently doesn’t know that certain words when aimed toward certain people can have racial connotations.

Calling a black player like Reaves “that animal” didn’t sit well with several hockey fans, judging by the online reaction to Tortorella’s words.

I demand the @NHL address this racist mess and Torts apologize immediately. @ColorOfHockey https://t.co/7LtrFwJ6Kv

— Pamela Merritt (@SharkFu) November 6, 2016

And Torts needs to apologize to the game too. Hockey is better that this. I love this sport and it is better than this. https://t.co/cveB1gKeS4

— Pamela Merritt (@SharkFu) November 6, 2016

Seriously, we just gonna let this slide? https://t.co/ugbTg6E2ev

— Harrison Mooney (@HarrisonMooney) November 6, 2016

John Tortorella isn't racist. He just can't shut his yap about a black QB protesting and calls black hockey players animals.

— J.J. (@JJfromKansas) November 6, 2016

@HarrisonMooney It’s bad, but I will say I’ve heard him say “animal” in that way about white dudes. Worth a “hey, don’t do that.”

— (((Jesse Spector))) (@jessespector) November 6, 2016

 

I am not sure I can put into words just how deeply I loathe John Tortorella… And that was BEFORE his comments last night.

— Kyle M. (@KyleWIIM) November 6, 2016

Wow! John Tortorella just referred to Ryan Reaves as an Animal. Pls explain Torts. Last I checked Reaves is human being like u and me.

— Jeff Heer (@HeerJeff) November 6, 2016

It’s hard to determine what Tortorella’s intent was in calling Reaves an animal. Apparently no one at the post-game press conference asked the coach to elaborate on his comment.

Several words can be used to describe Reaves – enforcer, fighter, tough guy, pugilist, or the old-school hockey phrase “goon,” if you must.  So the use of “animal” is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Tortorella knows that he needs to choose his words carefully. Just a few days ago, he employed verbal restraint before getting too salty before the cameras.

The use of the word “animal” conjures up some bad hockey memories for some. Val James, the NHL’s first U.S.-born black player, was often called an animal, a monkey, a gorilla, or some other primate during a professional career that spanned the 1970s and 80s.

James, who was one of the game’s most-feared fighters,  once told me of the time that he was sitting in the penalty box during a minor league game when two people dangled a fishing line down to him with a toy monkey attached to it.

The taunt aimed at James was so appalling that the game’s referee – current U.S. Congressman Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania – threatened to end the game and call it a forfeit against the home team if the two tormentors weren’t ejected from the arena.

Philadelphia Flyers star forward Wayne Simmonds got the less-than-human treatment in 2011 when a so-called fan threw a banana toward him during a pre-season game in London, Ont. NHL broadcaster Kevin Weekes had a banana tossed at him in Montreal in 2002 when he played goal for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tortorella stirred controversy at the World Cup of Hockey in September when he said he would bench any of his Team USA players if they followed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest and not stand for the national anthem.

Kaepernick is protesting what he feels is the oppressive treatment of blacks in the United States.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown, who wasn’t on the U.S. World Cup of Hockey squad, criticized Tortorella’s criticism in a tweet that said “Wouldn’t benching a black man for taking a stance only further prove Kap’s point of oppression?”

Brown told The Tampa Bay Times that Tortorella “sees the situation through his reality and I see it through mine, as a black athlete in the NHL.”

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Telegram
  • WhatsApp
  • Skype

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • Asian & Pacific Islander heritage players on 2020-21 team rosters in pictures
  • Meet the Black players on NCAA women’s hockey rosters in 2020-21
  • Jaden Lindo adds new chapter to ‘Soul on Ice’ by winning hockey championship
  • Sarah Nurse seeks gold at IIHF world championship after winning Olympic silver
  • Hockey Family Photo Album, Page 2

Archives

  • May 2021
  • February 2021
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • April 2013
  • December 2012

Categories

  • John Tortorella
  • nhl.com
  • Uncategorized

Hockey Links

  • American Collegiate Hockey Association
  • Black Ice Book
  • Detroit Hockey Association
  • Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation
  • Fort Dupont Ice Arena
  • Hasek's Heroes
  • Hockey is for Everyone
  • Hockeyland Canada
  • Ice Hockey in Harlem
  • International Ice Hockey Federation
  • Jamaica Olympic Ice Hockey Federation
  • Kevin Weekes Online
  • NHL official website
  • NHL Uniforms
  • Ted's Take
  • The American Hockey League
  • The ECHL
  • TSN
  • USA Hockey

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: