Val james writes about the bitter and the sweet in his hockey career photo kwame damon mason james and coauthor john gallagher recount the hostility he endured and the good times the left wing experienced in hockey during the 1970s and 80s in his book, black ice. Val edwin james born february 14, 1957 is an american former professional ice hockey left winger, as well as defenseman, who. While writing his book, as he remembered the racial slurs and taunting he endured during. This photo is of val james and his long time wife ina who is pointing to the 1983 ahl calder cup, in which val james would score the championship goal for the rochester americans.
Legends of hockey nhl player search player val james. The first africanamerican to play in the league, james has left a. There is an excerpt in the book where current sabre at the time randy burridge was being interviewed about his memories of the old aud. Black ice quotes showing 11 of 1 just like every other young black child born to southern sharecroppers, i dreamed of playing professional ice hockey. Val edwin james is an american former professional ice hockey left winger, as well as defenseman, who played two seasons in the national hockey league for the buffalo sabres and toronto maple leafs. Rising above racism, val james endured to become a hockey. Black ice and millions of other books are available for instant access. Val james, the nhls first africanamerican player, tells story in new book. In january 2017 ecw press rereleased the book in paperback format to coincide with black history. Val james fought racial prejudice democrat and chronicle. Utterly unerotic, completely nonromantic books about hockey. Born in central florida, james grew up on long island and received his first pair of skates for his th birthday. James was the first black american to play in the nhl.
His milestone as the first americanborn black player in the nhl is a mere historical footnote compared to the man who broke baseballs color barrier a. I had first heard of val james in 1997 when i read ross brewitts book sabres. Terry oreilly vs val james from the boston bruins at buffalo sabres game on mar 28, 1982. In the game that night, james was involved in an early first period beatdown and was tossed out of the game. Hockey pioneer james reveals rough journey in book. Hockey fights is an entertainment site with no direct affiliation to the national hockey league, its teams, or nhlpa.
More than 30 years later, the author s kids met the hockey pioneer at a book signing. Feb 26, 2015 the first black american hockey player in nhl history is telling his story almost 30 years after he retired. Apr 14, 2020 val james, 4 games if you blinked during the 19867 season, you might have missed val james stint as a maple leaf. Hockey wasnt easy for val james from picking up the game as a. The val james story, with john gallagher, was born in ocala, fla. Nhl pioneer val james not bitter about his tortured. But those four games broke the colour barrier for the blue and white, and marked the culmination of an amazing story of perseverance. He talks about his youth, the significance of his father, and shares some interesting anecdotes from his playing days about his extracurricularsextivities. After nearly 20 years playing junior and professional hockey, val james settled in ontario with his wife, ina.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Currently a federal prosecutor, john gallagher is a former white house fellow and former new york city police. As a 10yearold boy, the author met val james after he was tossed out of a game. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Val james shares his stories on hockey and racism in new book. Val edwin james born february 14, 1957 is an american former professional ice hockey left winger, as well as defenseman, who played two seasons in the national hockey league nhl for the buffalo sabres and toronto maple leafs. Val james played short stints with the buffalo sabres and the toronto maple leafs in. Val james, author of black ice, reflects on a groundbreaking hockey career when val james walked out on the ice at the blue cross arena in rochester, new york, to participate in a ceremonial pregame puck drop earlier this month, it was something of a homecoming for the onetime nhl enforcer. While writing his book, as he remembered the racial slurs and taunting he endured during his hockey career, he felt aggravated. Statistics of val james, a hockey player from ocala, fl born feb 14 1957 who was active. He is an almost entirely forgotten about hockey player from the past. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read black ice.
Chips, dips, and salty treats for his first game as a member of the leafs. A hockey legend cyclone taylor was one of the first fully professional hockey players. Val more james became the first black american to skate in the nhl for the buffalo sabres in 1982, twentyfour years after canadian, willie oree would officially break the colourbarrier. This is not so much a hockey book as it is a raw insight into racism in our. Just a good, if a bit censored, look at prewar hockey.
In his case, they all start from the same place, right on long island, where he finally returned tuesday night. This is the cover image of black ice, a new autobiography by former nhler val james. Val james, the nhls first africanamerican player, tells story in new. He experienced racism as the first player throughout his skating career. The first americanborn black player to reach the nhl, vals story is one of strength, courage, and perseverance. The first black american in the nhl tells his story val james became the first. Val james in niagara falls, ontario, where he lives. James signed his contract with the buffalo sabres in 1982. From the back cover, val james became the first african american player in the nhl when he took to the. Browse and shop for books, home decor, toys, gifts and more on indigo. Join facebook to connect with val james and others you may know. Val james endured some harsh treatment while playing in the minors in the 1970s and 80s. This tale of acrimony, glamour and marital woes is the. After retirement he taught hockey for 10 years before leaving sports altogether.
He faced vicious racism, including fans throwing bananas on the ice. Val james became the first african american player in the nhl when he took to the ice with. Val james was a revered and feared fighter known in hockey as an enforcer. The val james story, is scheduled by ecw press for worldwide distribution to coincide with black history month in february 2015.
Description author details the first black american in the nhl tells his story now in trade paper val james received his first pair of skates for his th birthday and by 16, he left his home in new york to play in canada, where he was the only black person on his junior team and, often, in the whole town. Val james career as a professional hockey player which ended at age 30 marked the first time an americanborn black man played in the nhl. Val james on hockey is for everyone night duration. Only one of the players can be considered something of a star. Statistics of val james, a hockey player from ocala, fl born feb 14 1957 who was active from 1971 to 1988.
Val james on breaking the colour barrier for the leafs. Very important read for those who want to learn about hockey before the war. Dec 21, 2012 val james was the first, in 1981, and about half of the total are listed on current rosters. Updated daily with news and features from over writers worldwide. John m gallagher val james became the first african american player in the nhl when he took to the ice with the buffalo sabres in 1982, and in 1987 he became the first black player of any nationality to skate for. Val james became the first african american player in the nhl when he took to the.
Val james became the first african american player in the nhl when he took to the ice with the buffalo sabres in 1982, and in 1987 he became the first black player of any nationality to skate for the toronto maple leafs. He was always the only black player on his team, beginning with his youth hockey. Meanwhile, his pet dog is making a game of emerging from the shadows, knocking james. Offending many, the controversial decision nevertheless drew media and public attention to the series and subsequently registration in girls hockey went up 40%. Nhl, the nhl shield, the word mark and image of the stanley cup, the stanley cup playoffs logo, the stanley cup final logo, center. A hockey legend cyclone taylor was one of the first fully. Conval regional high school boys varsity ice hockey winter. Not perfect, since this book was finished in 1998 so its missing the 2002 wings and his time as an executive with the blackhawks, but it does a flawless job of presenting a balanced account of the greatest coach in hockey history. The val james story is a quick and easy read with short chapters that kind of read like hockey shifts. Seven hot new books about hockey the globe and mail. Val was drafted by the detroit red wings in the 16th round 184th. Oct 09, 2015 the new york public library has a wide selection of books highlighting the legends of the game, written by some of best hockey reporters out there. Jan 24, 2017 candace cameron bure and husband valeri bure were just kids when they met, but growing up together hasnt caused them to grow apart.
Val james, the nhls first africanamerican player, tells. Currently a federal prosecutor, john gallagher is a former white house fellow and former new york city police officer. The val james story by val james and john gallagher. The challenges and achievements of this pioneer are told through his riveting life. When he retired from hockey, val james needed to forget. Feb 04, 2015 val james in niagara falls, ontario, where he lives. Books on hockey some of my favorite books ive read about the sport of hockey, as well as some i hope to read soon. John m gallagher an autobiography of val james, the first americanborn black hockey player to play in the national hockey. Apr 20, 2015 val james career as a professional hockey player which ended at age 30 marked the first time an americanborn black man played in the nhl. He played mostly rover, a position that was eliminated when hockey went from 6v6 to 5v5.
Why youve never heard of the first black american hockey. The story behind candace cameron bure and valeri bures. Find val james stats, teams, height, weight, position. The first africanamerican to play in the league, james has left a legacy in rink throughout the united states. If youre looking to read more sports romances or want to give this particular romance subgenre a try, here are 100 romances with a variety of sports elements. Val james elite prospects hockey players, stats and. At the firstever womens hockey world championships in 1990, canada dressed its national womens team in pink. The first black american hockey player in nhl history is telling his story almost 30 years after he retired. Feb 06, 2017 the super bowl was yesterday, and as someone who appreciates a man in a sports uniform, im all about romances set on some sort of field or court. Courtesy rochester americans after he retired, james couldnt watch hockey for 10 years. The val james story in the opening pages of black ice, a 12year old valmore james is teaching himself to ice skate afterhours in a darkened hockey arena. Val james is a name that isnt often spoken in nhl circles, but he should be.
The val james story ebook written by valmore james, john gallagher. The hockey book, from sports illustrated, is an excellent pictorial look at the game at its best. With a dominating win in the books for the griffins, the rest was up to pembroke academycampbell in their senior game against laconia. Val james made a living in hockey because of his toughness, but his biggest battles were off the ice born in ocala, fla. Val james has many stories to tell, as any pioneer does. February 26, 2015 val james became the first americanborn black player in the nhl in 1982.
Hockey players try red bull crashed ice track for the first time without practice. The val james story by james, valmore, gallagher, john isbn. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on val james. The griffins play on saturday 37 at 4pm in laconia against the belmontgilford bulldogs. H e might not be the most notable enforcer to ever don 28 for the leafs, but val james holds a unique place in maple leafs lore nonetheless on november 24th, 1986, james stepped onto the ice at maple leaf gardens or as we know it today, aisle 7. Val james says he always thought about writing a book, a book describing what he endured as he grew up in hockey. New york one night during val james rookie season with the buffalo sabres in 1982, he was faced with a test of character. Nov 05, 2011 the devil and bobby hull how hockey s original milliondollar man became the games lost legend. Val james made a big impression on and off the ice.
Val james born valmore curtis james on february 14, 1957 is a retired american professional ice hockey left winger, as well as defenseman, who played two seasons in the national hockey league nhl for the buffalo sabres and toronto maple leafs he was the first nativeborn floridian to play in the nhl. The val james story val james became the first african american player in the nhl when he took to the ice with the buffalo sabres in 1982, and in 1987 he became the first black player of any nationality to skate for the toronto maple leafs. Val james was the first african american player to play in the nhl. Day, lets take a moment to honor the black hockey pioneers of the nhl. Val jamess narrative is a revealing exploration of hockey culture in the 80s and 90s, together with an even more critical expose on the larger culture that shaped it. He played only 11 nhl games plus 3 more in the playoffs in his career and there are s of guys like that who equally as memorable than. Founded in 2009, the hockey writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. His stint with the buffalo sabres and toronto maple leafs were short lived and he eventually retired in 1987 due to injury. The couple celebrated 20 years of marriage last year. Valmore curtis james born february 14, 1957 in ocala, florida, is a retired american professional ice hockey left winger, as well as defenseman. You might recognize the names willie oree and herb carnegie but what about val james.
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