Breaking Racial Barriers in the National Hockey League National Historic Event
Toronto, Ontario
Henry Maracle
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Address :
30 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
2022-01-11
Dates:
-
1931 to 1958
(Significant)
Other Name(s):
-
Breaking Racial Barriers in the National Hockey League
(Designation Name)
Research Report Number:
2021-08, 2021-08-A
Importance:
Hockey players overcoming racial barriers in professional hockey
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: On a stone wall, to the immediate left of the entrance leading to the Hockey Hall of Fame, 30 Yonge , Toronto, Ontario
Since the establishment of the National Hockey League in 1917, non-white athletes faced racial barriers, preventing them from playing in the league. In the early decades of the NHL, men such as Paul Jacobs, Henry “Elmer” Maracle, Larry Kwong, Fred Sasakamoose, and Willie O’Ree confronted widespread racism and prejudice on and off the ice. These players broke through racial barriers at each stage of their careers, ultimately reaching hockey’s premier league. Representing greater diversity and inclusion in professional hockey, these trailblazers were recognized for both their skill and perseverance, inspiring future generations of players.