The Minority League

On this episode, Michael Hutton shares an inspiring story of perseverance. He coaches youth hockey in North Carolina and tells us why he loves the sport and how it could possibly have saved his life.

Youth hockey coach Murat Pak speaks to us on this episode. A former player of Turkish descent, he tells us what it was like playing hockey in Germany as a kid and what it's like for his players now. He shares the nuances of working with a wide range of international children. And Murat talks about his involvement with and the importance of organizations such as the NHL Coaches’ Association and Hoc...

We're back with our third season! During the break, there was a major announcement in the world of hockey. Tennessee State University is starting a hockey program, and it is the first HBCU to implement this sport. Nick Guerriero is the man pulling together the first ice hockey team at a historically black college and university. Tennessee State University made the announcement on the same day as t...

New episodes coming on October 10! Join us as we speak to guests including children’s book author Anthony Walsh, youth hockey coach Murat Pak, and Tennessee State University’s Nick Guerriero, to name just a few!

We're thrilled that Frantz Jean, goaltending coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, joins us for the last episode of our season. He is active in the NHL Coaches Association BIPOC coaching program which focuses specifically to support minority coaches with skills development, career building and leadership initiatives. Jean currently coaches one of the best goalies in the NHL, Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Kalamazoo Wings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, Joel Martin joins us. One of only two Black head coaches in professional hockey, he was promoted to this role in August 2022. Martin has had a formidable professional and coaching career up to this point. He's also active in the NHL Coaches' Association's BIPOC Coaches Program, which strives to support black, indigenous and...

Sports journalist Tarik El-Bashir speaks with us on this episode. He's a reporter for TNT Hockey and a Senior Writer for The Athletic. Additionally, El-Bashir covers the Washington Capitals, and he's notably covered Alexander Ovechkin since his rookie year. He discusses his involvement with the Fort Dupont Cannons and the elements that can cause barriers for minorities to participate in ho...

We are taking a short break.  We will be back on March 21st with a new episode - with Tarik el Bashir. He's a hockey reporter for TNT and covers the Washington Capitals for The Athletic. AND he's been covering Alex Ovechkin since his rookie year. You can check out all our episodes wherever you listen to podcasts, and at https://www.theminorityleague.com.

This week, we are so excited that we have our first return guest! Black Girl Hockey Club's formidable founder, Renee Hess, joins us again. She started the organization back in 2018 to encourage black girls and women to take part in hockey as fans and players. The organization has taken off since then, with a recent expansion into Canada. They have given out numerous scholarships and mentored women...

In this episode, we are talking to two people changing hockey in different ways, but whose paths have intersected: Swift Hockey founder Zechariah Thomas and Jaden Lindo, Manager of Community Hockey Programs at the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. Swift Hockey is changing the game by providing hockey sticks at a lower cost. Likewise, Lindo's programs are increasing accessibility of the game througho...

Naleli Danso speaks to us about what playing with the Baltimore Banners means to her and what it is like to be a transgender woman in this space. She tells us about the community that is the Banners and about the time she met Washington Capitals players. Additionally, Anar and Manashi discuss their wish lists for this year's All Star Game.

Founder Noel Acton of the Tender Bridge Foundation speaks with us. The Baltimore Banners is a part of this foundation, and it's a hockey team for at-risk youth in the area. The team is a safe space for kids and mentors to play the game, and it has made a huge impact on this community. Additionally, Anar and Manashi talk about their holiday break.

We're taking a holiday break and will be back with new episodes on January 10, 2023! Happy holidays to everyone!

Alexandria Briggs-Blake of the Tucker Road Parent Hockey Association joins us this episode.  She talks about how she's changing the face of hockey at many levels, from youth hockey in the state of Maryland and across the U.S., to working with the pros in the NHL. Also, Anar and Manashi talk about Hockey Fights Cancer and how it impacts their love of the game. 

The Seattle Kraken's Mari Horita joins us for a great discussion on the engagement efforts of the NHL's newest franchise. Mari is the Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Government Relations, and she's also the Executive Director of the One Roof Foundation. She talks about initiatives ranging from mental health to Learn to Skate programs that the Kraken has implemented plus what other...

Nathaniel Brooks from the Arizona Coyotes joins us this week. He talks to us about his new role as Skills Development Coach, what his journey to the NHL was like, and how he's inspiring success for other minorities coming into the sport.

Former Washington Capitals player Bill Riley was the third Black player in the National Hockey League. He opens up about how he got started in hockey and went to play in the NHL as well as the racism he faced and how his playing days are remembered. Find out how Anar met this famous player, and how he’s continuing his legacy of good work.

We had a great first season, and we’re really looking forward to our second one! In this episode, we speak with sports journalist and writer Cecil Harris. He’s the author of Breaking the Ice , a book about Black players in professional hockey. Harris talks to us about his experiences covering the Carolina Hurricanes, what opportunities he thinks former Black players should have, and even shares so...

Just like the National Hockey League, we are back!  Join us this season as we speak to some of the most influential people in hockey.  We speak to one of the first Black players in the NHL - former Washington Capitals right winger Bill Riley, Arizona Coyotes coach Nathaniel Brooks, the Seattle Kraken's Mari Horita, sports journalist Cecil Harris, and more.  New episodes start Octobe...

It’s the final episode for this season! We speak with Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi broadcaster, Randip Janda. He tells us about his involvement with the Canucks organization and their Diwali celebrations and how community is a huge part of hockey. Also, Manashi and Anar wrap up what they've learned this season. 

We return this week with the second part of our interview with Samson Cree goalie, Devin Buffalo. He shares his experiences playing college and professional hockey, and he tells us about the community outreach and coaching that he's currently involved with. Also, Anar and Manashi had a New York City adventure last month, and the ladies speak about their shenanigans together!

We speak to Samson Cree goalie Devin Buffalo about his experiences playing hockey professionally and in youth leagues. He tells us about the initiatives he is now leading in his community, and he shares some tough stories with us. Anar and Manashi also discuss the Olympics and how the sports world is responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In this episode, the first Black player in the NHL - Willie O'Ree - talks about his favorite hockey memory.  We also speak to rising NHL star Pierre-Olivier Joseph of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he and Delvina Morrow tell us more about some of the Penguins' outreach programs.

On this episode, we speak with two people who are actively working in the National Hockey League: Duante Abercrombie and Delvina Morrow. Abercrombie is the Assistant Ice Hockey Coach at Stevenson University, and Morrow is the Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives and DEI for the Pittsburgh Penguins. We learn about the initiatives they have been involved with and the changes they see happening....

We bring you two former Ft. Dupont Cannons players who are still integral to the organization. They talk about the challenges of being young black men playing hockey and what the opportunities are for playing professionally. This episode features Jaronte Jones and Hank Lee.