A new program allows children who wouldn’t normally have the chance to play hockey to put on their shoes and hit the ice in a safe and welcoming environment.

The idea was created from Godlove Ngwafusi’s own experience seeing how her son, Nick, was treated growing up playing the game he loves.

“It all started, all that and negative stuff about racism in hockey that we all know,” said Ngwafusi, executive director of the African Hockey Association.

“He had his whole heart for hockey and then he was faced with negative reviews and slurs, being called the N word and things like that that could really hurt him because he was born here.

Nick persevered and continued to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association for the Marian University Sabers.

Ngwafusi started the program in October. The African-Canadian Association and other corporate sponsors have also pledged to cover equipment costs, as well as registration and ice time, helping children who would not normally have the financial means to practice. this sport.

“Most of them just couldn’t skate, they had never been on the ice before… they are now playing scrums,” said Ngwafusi, referring to some of the players on the team, many of whom are new to Canada.

“These kids are Canadians and they always felt left out because they couldn’t play. They’ve played soccer and that sort of thing, but they want to be able to play the full range of Canadian sports, and the ultimate Canadian sport is hockey. . “

More than skills

Ngwafusi said that as more and more children join the program, their friends and family see the fun they are having and want to play too.

“I wanted to start skating … and hitting the puck and scoring goals,” said Jayden Mforteh, who is on the program.

For Jaeden Bouzi Laryea, who started playing back ice hockey after watching Canada’s national winter sport on television, developing the skills of top players who volunteer as coaches means the world for him. It’s especially significant, he said, when the coaches look like him.

“I feel like I can love being in the NHL and there aren’t a lot of black players in the NHL, so I want to be one of them,” he said. declared.

He was one of many children who participated in a Sunday morning practice at the Jim Durrell Recreation Center on Sunday morning.

“I think it’s important to be around people who are like you during hockey, because there aren’t a lot of people who are racialized in hockey.

Parents who watch their children play also believe so.

“I think at some point you have to do something, and if you can start at a lower level to develop it, why not? I think kids crave representation,” said Melissa Piere Sossoyan .

“As parents, our job is to give them the tools, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Ngwafusi said any child can join the program, and he hopes it will continue to develop in the years to come.

For more stories about the experiences of black Canadians – from anti-black racism to success stories within the black community – check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.