Black Hockey Players Excel On Ice Despite History Of Racism Lack Of Rinks In Chicago

       I was getting a haircut at Madison Street Barbers recently when I mentioned that I play hockey just down the street at Johnny’s IceHouse, one of the city’s few indoor rinks and the only sheet of ice in a 16-square-mile area encompassing the city’s west side and many other neighborhoods.



                             The lack of access and long history of racial tension surrounding the sport have hampered efforts to diversify its ranks.






                             I’m sure there was a nonwhite kid interested in hockey who changed his mind after seeing that footage, saying, “Nah, I’m good.”



                             “We explained that sometimes people fear others out of ignorance, and that it’s a reflection on the person making negative comments, not the person who’s the target of the comments. We explained to our kids that, as much as anything, they should feel sorry for anyone who’s so ignorant or fearful that they would make racist statements toward them,” Erickson said.


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