John Paris Jr. may be 76 years old now, but the first Black coach in professional hockey can still remember how his love of the game began.
At an early age, he would sit around the television to watch hockey with his father, John Sr.
鈥淗e would ask the questions pertinent to the game, or to an individual play or concept, and then I would answer,鈥� Paris Jr. told 麻豆影视.
That critical understanding would bring him to elite levels, later trying out for the Montreal Junior Canadiens and then the Chicago Blackhawks farm team, all while enduring racism, in the mid-1960s.
鈥淢y Dad had always said that if you鈥檙e accomplishing something or if you鈥檙e good at it, you鈥檙e always going to have someone that will find fault with you,鈥� Paris Jr. said.
This Black History Month, there is a new push to finally recognize John Paris Jr. in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Although a sudden diagnosis of Crohn鈥檚 disease had ended his NHL dreams, Paris Jr. quickly shifted to coaching at a time when there were no Black coaches.
鈥淚 felt that I still had a responsibility towards the athletes that were surrounding me,鈥� Paris Jr. said.
He would become the first Black coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the first Black scout in the NHL, and would lead the Atlanta Knights to win the International Hockey League Turner Cup in 1994.
Hockey Nova Scotia has now started a petition to induct Paris Jr. in the Hockey Hall of Fame, something that advocates say is long overdue.
鈥淥ne of the things I think is often overlooked, not only the accolades and not only his accomplishments, but the atmosphere in which he鈥檇 done it, in a time when racism was overt, it was systemic,鈥� Dean Smith, Hockey Nova Scotia鈥檚 Diversity & Inclusion chair, told 麻豆影视.
Paris Jr.鈥檚 brother Percy appreciates his recognition, but said he wished the hockey decision makers would鈥檝e inducted him without the need for a petition.
鈥淩eaching the ranks and accomplishments that he did, there鈥檚 no question where he belongs,鈥� he told 麻豆影视.
鈥淚t would be much, much greater if the powers of hockey were leading the way.鈥�
An ongoing push to recognize a man who paved the way for inclusion in Canada鈥檚 favourite game.
With files from CTVNews.ca鈥檚 Alexandra Mae Jones
