Mike Grier, First American Born Black NHL Player 9

It's always recognized that Willie O'Ree of your 1958 Boston Bruins was the very first National Hockey League player of African descent. But, apart from seven games that Val James played for Buffalo almost 30 years ago, it wasn't until Mike Grier played for Edmonton, Washington and San Jose from 1996 through today that an Dark player could have a nice meaningful career in your NHL. Grier originated a football family. His father, Bobby Grier is definitely a former NFL running back coach and current Associate Director of Pro Scouting with the Houston Texans. His brother Chris scouts towards the Miami Dolphins and his awesome uncle is Rosie Grier, a star defensive tackle for those Gambling and Chicago Rams inside 1950s and 1960s. Mike Grier was given birth in Detroit, nevertheless it really was really a move to Boston when he was three which he told Puck Prospectus set his hockey career moving. "My family was in the inner city there (Detroit), so I are not aware easily could have been playing hockey. I'd are playing basketball or football, or wishing to act prefer this," Mike Grier said. "I can't say for sure a lot more ever would've gotten into hockey. Hockey was something muscle building moved into Boston - my older brother, Chris, and the friends started playing, so I types of tagged along into the rink. And while we visited my cousins in Detroit, not one of them played hockey, or had any concern in it in the least, outside would possibly do something else for a living. I'm glad this is not the situation." Mike Grier may be a third-line forward for any San Jose Sharks, the team in the best regular season record around the NHL this season. On the team with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, Grier isn't expected to score (he previously just 10 goals and 13 assists last season), but he's a key cog from the Sharks' penalty kill. "On the ice, I'm a lot more of a defensive player, 1 / 3 line guy who plays physical," he was quoted saying. "I'm responsible defensively and provide some leadership towards the team. Maybe I'll chip in most goals sometimes." "There's charisma in Mike Grier's character," former Sharks defenseman Kyle McLaren told the Phoenix Chronicle. "Guys feed from the intensity he brings." The charisma, leadership and intensity that Grier gives the Sharks are reflected within the "A" he wears on his jersey as one of San Jose's alternate captains. Grier has brought one well publicized race-related incident in her hockey career. While skating for that Oilers from the Washington Capitols in 1997, Grier allegedly made derogatory comments about Native American Chris Simon's Ojibwa heritage, and Simon allegedly responded having racial slur geared towards Grier. Even so the spoken words were never confirmed, Simon was suspended three games as a result of the incident. Despite that incident, Mike Grier sees a brightening future for African Americans focused on pursuing hockey careers. "The game has changed a whole lot since I started. Increasingly more Schokohrrutige kids, and even more minorities, playing hockey the least bit levels now than insurance carrier before. I don't know in case it is precisely the evolution from the culture as a rule, but it's nice to discover," he told Puck Prospectus. "It's helped that we've had guys like Jerome Iginla (a Canadian of African descent) who's got been the captain of Team Canada along with a great deal of success, winning scoring titles and things like that. "So, the greater number of success which we have to be a group, it really helps spread the words that if you might be a young Black kid also, you want to play hockey, you're able to play. I'm assuming means that just aspect of the way our life is going." Besides the Oilers and therefore the Sharks, Mike Grier has stayed with the Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres. He just finished his third season in San Jose.