Welcome to the Varsity Centre Arena stop of the Black History Here & Now Virtual Tour, where we will learn about Black Canadians in hockey.
Black Canadians are pioneers of hockey. Two historians, George Fosty and Daril Fosty, have written extensively on Black Canadians and the Colored Hockey League (CHL), revealing that, contrary to past revelations, hockey’s roots and background are Black and stem from the south of Halifax.
Founded in Nova Scotia in 1895, the CHL had over 400 players in a three-decade span. A little-known fact from this time (now coming to light) is that the slapshot can be credited to a Black Canadian forward, Eddie Martin, who played for the CHL Halifax Eurekas in 1906. In its peak, the CHL drew crowds of up to 1200 for its championship games in the early 1900s.
In January 2020, Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp featuring an image of Black hockey players on a frozen pond in front of the Halifax Citadel. The stamp reads “Colored Hockey Championship” and includes the names of some of the teams: Jubilees, Stanleys, Eurekas, Sea-Sides, Rangers, Royals and Moss Backs.
Read more about the contributions of Black Canadians to the sport of hockey below.
Athlete Spotlight
THE ST. CATHERINE'S ORIOLES
The first record of an all-Black hockey team in Ontario is found in St. Catherine’s in the 1930s. Part of an eight-team league, the St. Catherine’s Orioles (also called the St. Kitts Orioles) faced off against various teams in the Niagara District Hockey League. The team, made up of about 16 players, often faced discrimination. While there are not many official records on the team, more information can be found, for example, in the book A Sporting Chance: Achievements of African-Canadian Athletes by Bill Humber.
Learn more about the St. Catherine's Orioles
DARREN LOWE
Darren Lowe comes from a family rooted in Black Canadian Hockey history as his dad played on an all-black line for the Mount Forest Redmen in the 1950s, one of the first in the country.
In 1984, Lowe became the first Black Canadian to represent Canada in the Men’s Olympic Hockey competition. He tallied 2 goals and 1 assist in 7 games at the Olympics, helping Canada to a fourth-place finish.
After his appearance with the Olympic Team, Lowe attracted NHL interest and became the first Black player to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
At the end of his playing career Lowe became the first black head coach of the Varsity Blues Men’s Hockey team in 1995, the beginning of a successful 22-year coaching career.
Coach Lowe accomplished 4 first placed finishes in their OUA Division and over 250 wins throughout his tenure.
Sources
George Fosty and Darill Fosty: Canadian Encylopedia - Coloured Hockey League
Sportsnet: The Mostly Lost History of the St. Catharines Orioles
Hockey Canada: In My Own Words - Darren Lowe
Additional Resources
Varsity Blues: Black History Month Feature - Safiya Muharuma
Ice Queens: A Documentary about Black Women in Hockey
Canadian Encyclopedia: Herb Carnegie
Canadian Encyclopedia: Willie O'Ree
Be sure to explore the other stops on the Black History Here & Now virtual tour to delve further into the experiences of Black Canadians in sport and physical activity.
