The Color of Hockey William Douglas

Today on the Color of Hockey, Bill has a very special guest with him, Grant Fuhr. Grant is a Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender, has won five Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers, and was named NHL’s best goaltender in 1988. He has also been named of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players and was the first black hockey player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. On top of all that, he’s also the subject of the new documentary: Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story, which tells the story of Fuhr’s life, on and off the ice.
 
This episode, Grant tells the story of the origin of his movie, Making Coco; his early career with the Edmonton Oilers; what helped him develop most as a player; the transition from playing in Canada to the States; some of his challenges throughout his career in hockey; his experiences on several teams, as well as coaching; and what it was like to be the first black player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
 
Topics of Discussion:
[:13] Bill introduces his guest, Grant Fuhr.
[:45] The origin of the movie, Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story.
[1:28] What Grant would like the main takeaway from his movie to be.
[1:53] Back when Bill and Grant met in 1980, Grant was a man of few words. Was it difficult for him to bare his life on screen?
[2:38] Glen Sather, previous coach of the Edmonton Oilers, didn’t originally want Grant Fuhr as a goalie. Grant speaks about what he did to prove himself and become a first-round draft pick.
[3:46] About Grant’s first goaltending coach, and the major differences in goaltending coaching now and then.
[4:46] The partner that helped Grant the most to develop as a player.
[5:18] Grant describes the pressure of the game back when he was playing.
[6:08] Were there any difficulties breaking into hockey in the NHL as a black player in the ’80s?
[7:11] About Grant’s transition from a Canadian team to the Buffalo Sabres.
[8:37] Grant’s experience with other up-and-coming goaltenders.
[9:23] Was it difficult sharing some of his more personal experiences in his documentary (such as being suspended by the NHL for drug-use)?
[10:43] What was the positive side after being suspended?
[11:10] About Grant’s amazing experiences playing with the Edmonton Oilers.
[11:40] The challenge of playing for a team where defense was offense.
[13:00] Of the five Stanley Cups Grant has won, which one means the most to him?
[13:43] What Bob Kersee’s training meant to Grant’s career while he was with the St. Louis Blues.
[14:47] About Grant’s inspiration gained from Bob Kersee’s wife, Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
[15:11] Does Grant believe that a Stanley Cup could have been in the St. Louis Blues’ future had he not been injured mid-playoffs?
[15:47] Did Grant expect to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
[16:37] What being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame meant to Grant.
[17:00] Where would Grant put himself in the lineup of the greatest goaltenders of all time?
[17:22] Why Grant believes Martin Brodeur and Terry Sawchuk are the gold-standard for goaltenders.
[18:11] How the position of goaltending has changed since Grant started to when he retired.
[19:00] Did Grant “cheat” a little bit?
[20:20] Does Grant like butterfly goaltending?
[20:40] What goaltenders does Grant like to watch currently?
[21:20] Grant’s thoughts on possible changes to the game.
[22:14] The challenges of using smaller goalie pads.
[23:00] Why did Grant go through many different models of equipment throughout his career?
[23:40] What player had the hardest time scoring against Grant?
[24:06] Which teams did Grant give up the most goals to?
[24:40] What Willie O’Ree’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame means to Grant.
[25:30] What Grant is doing in hockey nowadays. Is he planning on getting back into coaching?
[26:05] About Grant’s upcoming coaching session on the Hockey Hall of Fame weekend for the Legends game.
 
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In this episode, Bill gets the chance to talk to Blake Bolden — a trailblazing, African-American woman in hockey — before she takes off to Lugano, Switzerland to compete in the 2017-18 season.
Blake Bolden was a star defenseman at Boston College from 2009 - 2013 and became the first African-American player in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League when she was drafted in the first round by the Boston Blades in 2013. She made history again, two years later, when she became the first black player to compete in the Women’s National League with Boston Pride. After all of her accomplishments and playing a total of 8 collegiate and professional seasons in Boston, she has decided to have a change of scenery — Lugano, Switzerland. Bill and Blake discuss this change-up, as well as Blake’s plans and hopes for Lugano, and what she sees for herself in the future.
 
Topics of Discussion:
[:22] Bill introduces Blake Bolden.
[1:55] Bill and Blake discuss Kaliya Johnson joining Boston Pride.
[2:30] Why Blake has decided to leave for Switzerland.
[3:33] The exciting, unknown path ahead for Blake.
[4:27] Why Blake chose Lugano.
[5:46] About Lugano.
[8:25] Blake’s accomplishments and coping with being cut from the National Team.
[13:16] Moving forward: Traveling overseas and training harder.
[14:36] What Blake hopes to gain from playing hockey in Switzerland.
[16:12] More about the Lugano League.
[17:02] Blake’s Lugano plans.
[17:49] How Blake got started in the hockey.
[21:24] What it was like always being the only black player in school and her career.
[25:25] Becoming a role model; encouraging other young, black girls to pick up hockey.
[28:06] Being a role model overseas in Switzerland.
[28:46] What Blake sees for the future of women’s hockey leagues.
[30:38] What’s next after Switzerland?
[32:06] About ‘Blake Bolden Athletics,’ Blake’s brand.
 
Want to Learn More about the Color of Hockey?
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To learn more about minorities in hockey visit the blog at colorofhockey.com
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Women’s Hockey Life
Ed Snider Hockey Foundation
Ice Hockey in Harlem
Blake Bolden Athletics
 
For Further Reading:
Blake Bolden Articles on colorofhockey.com

Hockey has taken Richard Park to many places; From California to Canada as a kid and playing on several NHL Teams (HC Ambri-Piotta, Pittsburgh Penguins, Genève-Servette HC, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks). Now, hockey is taking Park back to the country of his birth, South Korea. He’s the assistant head coach/assistant director for the Korean Men’s Team that will compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in February, working alongside Jim Paek, a former NHL Defenseman who has won two Stanley Cups in the ’90s.
In this podcast, Bill talks to Richard about the 2018 Winter Olympics, the NHL, and coaching in South Korea. They also discuss how Park got introduced to hockey, the lack of exposure of ice hockey in Asian communities, his current roles with the Minnesota Wild and Korean National Team, and where he is headed in the future.
 
Topics of Discussion:
[1:02] The role Park plays as both assistant head coach and assistant director of the Korean Men’s National Hockey Team
[4:00] The effects of not having NHL players on the Olympic Team
[5:00] Earning the promotion to the top-flight competition in Men’s International Hockey
[6:54] How Park got his job as the assistant head coach/director of the Korean Men’s Team
[8:09] The uphill challenge of getting the Korean Team up to par with the best
[9:30] What was going through Park’s mind after the victory against Ukraine, in Kiev
[10:21] According to the IIHF, there are fewer than 2,700 men and women players in the entire country. Bill and Richard discuss the challenges this provides.
[12:07] The exposure that the Winter Olympics will have on ice hockey for South Korea
[13:02] What it has been like to go back to South Korea
[14:40] Adapting to life in South Korea
[16:56] Bill and Richard Park talk generally about Asians in hockey
[21:16] Exposure of hockey in the Asian community
[23:02] How Park got introduced to hockey
[23:52] Park’s NHL career and what it was like playing against Paul Kariya
[25:25] Park’s current role with the Minnesota Wild
[27:37] What is the end goal? Where Park is headed, hockey-wise
[29:56] Juggling travel, a college degree and his family
 
Want to Learn More about the Color of Hockey?
Find more on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud and Google Play
To learn more about minorities in hockey visit the blog at colorofhockey.com

Harnarayan Singh became a social media star after his ‘Bonino, Bonino, Bonino!’ play-by-play call during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup Final game and made internet history. The famous call spread beyond Hockey Night Punjabi and hockey fans of all backgrounds found joy in the spontaneous call. Beyond his social media fame, Singh has been calling games in Punjabi since 2008 and has had a major impact on the hockey community with bringing diversity to hockey broadcasting.
 
In this episode, Bill and Harnarayan discuss how he got his job with Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition and the diversity and awareness it provides. With Punjabi being the third most spoken language in Canada, Hockey Night Punjabi is without a doubt, a much-needed and important broadcast; Allowing fans from all over Canada to enjoy the sport. They speak about how his small-town dream came true, how he kept his faith and culture throughout his career, and the challenges he has faced through broadcasting.
 
Topics of Discussion:
[1:23] Harnarayan on his famous ‘Bonino, Bonino, Bonino’ play-by-play call
[3:31] How ‘Bonino, Bonino, Bonino’ came to be
[4:48] Harnarayan Singh getting his job with Hockey Night in Canada and his commute from Calgary to Toronto
[9:26] Keeping his faith while maintaining his dream job
[11:27] The impact of the Punjabi broadcast for Hockey Night in Canada
[13:14] Having the chance to speak to students in high school about his small-town dream and the impact the broadcast has on the younger Punjabi generation
[14:33] The recognition of Jujhar Khaira’s goal
[15:53] Harnarayan Singh on his opportunity to work on the English side of Hockey Night in Canada
[16:38] Harnarayan’s early days: Getting into hockey and pretending to host and broadcast at a young age
[20:13] Harnarayan’s first gig in high school
[20:33] Broadcasting role models
[21:25] Harnarayan’s hockey wedding
[22:31] Representation in hockey
[24:53] Overcoming the challenges and backlash received from representation
[27:39] Creating hockey lingo in Punjabi
[29:17] Introducing hockey to new fans: Other teams offering broadcasts in other languages
 
Want to Learn More about the Color of Hockey?
Find more on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud and Google Play
To learn more about minorities in hockey visit the blog at colorofhockey.com

Karl Subban, father of three NHL-drafted sons, P.K., Malcolm, and Jordan shares what it was like raising pro hockey players, immigrating to Canada from Jamaica and his new book How We Did It: The Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School and Life. Karl’s goal is to inspire adults to see the potential in young children and allow them the opportunity to succeed. Every child is born with potential.
In this episode, Bill and Karl Subban go into depth about his children’s success and where they are in their careers now. He breaks down the challenges each of his sons faces and how they overcame their obstacles: P.K. gaining respect among hockey critics, Malcolm playing behind Tuukka Rask in the Boston Bruins system, and Jordan overcoming his lack of size in his quest to become an NHL defenseman.
 
Topics of Discussion:
[:55] Karl’s goals for writing his book: The potential each child holds
[4:43] Immigrating to Canada and becoming one with the culture through hockey
[5:36] An early inspiration to Karl: Montréal Canadiens’ Ken Dryden
[9:04] The expenses of hockey and Karl’s early days of playing the sport
[10:28] Growing up in Sudbury, becoming a fan of the Sudbury Wolves, and finding inspiration in a black player: Mike Marson
[12:04] Racial challenges Karl’s sons face and continuing to persevere
[15:35] Overcoming the negative comments of what other people are saying and tapping into your potential
[18:30] Karl’s perspective on P.K.’s trade from the Montréal Canadiens
[19:50] Karl on P.K.’s welcome to Nashville
[22:00] Nashville Predator’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals
[22:36] Meeting Charles Barkley
[24:50] Money challenges for Karl and Maria Subban; Making sacrifices to help their children succeed
[27:36] Karl’s retirement several years ago and returning back to teaching at-risk children
[30:40] Karl’s predictions for the 2017/18 Hockey Season
 
Want to Learn More about the Color of Hockey?
Find more on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud and Google Play
To learn more about minorities in hockey visit the blog at colorofhockey.com

Mentioned in this Episode:
How We Did It: The Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School and Life,
by Karl Subban and Scott Colby