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Firsts

Firsts in Black Hockey for Maritime Provinces, Canada by Garth Vaughan © 1999

1 – First Black Teams to play Ice Hockey – (Halifax/Dartmouth) -1895

2 – First Black Hockey Championship of World – (Halifax) – 1900

3 – First to allow goal tender to go to ice to stop puck – 1900

4 – First Black player integrated into white team – 1930s – John “Buster” Paris (Windsor) – Windsor Town Senior League – 1937 – Billy Oliver (Wolfville) – Acadia – Valley Senior Hockey League – 1937

5 – First all-Black line in Pro Ice Hockey -Manny MacIntyre (Devon, N.B.)+Herbie &Ozzie Carnegie(Ontario) – 1950s

6 – First Black Player in NHL – Willie O’Ree – (Fredericton) – Boston Bruins – 1957

7 – First Black Goal Tender in NHL – Eldon “Pokey” Reddick – (Halifax) – Winnipeg Jets -1986

8 – First Black Coach in Pro Ice Hockey – John Paris – (Windsor, N.S.) – Atlanta Knights – 1994 John was also First Black Head Coach in Triple A Midget Hockey, and First Black Head Coach and G.M. in Junior Major Hockey He is now Head Coach and Assistant Director at I.M.G. Sports Academy in Florida.