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| The forgotten story of ... Herbert Carnegie's attempt to break ice hockey's color barrier | The forgotten story of ... Herbert Carnegie's attempt to break ice hockey's color barrier |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| There is only one Jackie Robinson, of course. A player who didn’t just break a color line but broke the color line. Perhaps because baseball dominated the sporting landscape in 1947, and the impact that Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers debut would have on the civil rights movement, No42 was, and continues to be, the unchallenged flag-bearer for the integration of North American sports. Others, including Earl Lloyd, who recently died at age 86, and broke the National Basketball Association’s color line in 1950, are footnotes in their respective sports – far less celebrated, with no sign of a coming Hollywood biopic. | There is only one Jackie Robinson, of course. A player who didn’t just break a color line but broke the color line. Perhaps because baseball dominated the sporting landscape in 1947, and the impact that Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers debut would have on the civil rights movement, No42 was, and continues to be, the unchallenged flag-bearer for the integration of North American sports. Others, including Earl Lloyd, who recently died at age 86, and broke the National Basketball Association’s color line in 1950, are footnotes in their respective sports – far less celebrated, with no sign of a coming Hollywood biopic. |
| Even lesser known are the players born too early to realize their own sporting dreams – ultra-skilled athletes who had the talent, but lacked the appropriate the skin tone. Herbert H Carnegie was one of legions of sportsmen bound behind the color line and made to suffer through such institutional racism. | Even lesser known are the players born too early to realize their own sporting dreams – ultra-skilled athletes who had the talent, but lacked the appropriate the skin tone. Herbert H Carnegie was one of legions of sportsmen bound behind the color line and made to suffer through such institutional racism. |
| Carnegie, who died in 2012 at age 92, was an ice hockey superstar – an extraordinary talent buried in the minor leagues. That the center was one of the most gifted black players to ever lace up a pair of skates is a fact, but such a distinction means little when you consider what he could have been if he’d had the opportunity. | Carnegie, who died in 2012 at age 92, was an ice hockey superstar – an extraordinary talent buried in the minor leagues. That the center was one of the most gifted black players to ever lace up a pair of skates is a fact, but such a distinction means little when you consider what he could have been if he’d had the opportunity. |
| As a teenager, the Montreal Canadiens Hall-of-Fame center Jean Béliveau was so eager to learn from Carnegie that he raced to games to watch him play. Years later they would become minor-league team-mates before Béliveau was promoted to the NHL. It was a familiar theme for Carnegie: wherever he played during his 14-year career, many moved on to play in the big show. He stayed behind. | As a teenager, the Montreal Canadiens Hall-of-Fame center Jean Béliveau was so eager to learn from Carnegie that he raced to games to watch him play. Years later they would become minor-league team-mates before Béliveau was promoted to the NHL. It was a familiar theme for Carnegie: wherever he played during his 14-year career, many moved on to play in the big show. He stayed behind. |
| Instead of taking his chance to play with the very best, Carnegie roamed minor-league circuits while contending with crowds inclined to scream pleasantries including “Get the black bastard!” | Instead of taking his chance to play with the very best, Carnegie roamed minor-league circuits while contending with crowds inclined to scream pleasantries including “Get the black bastard!” |
| And worse. | And worse. |
| Such taunts would hit Carnegie from an early age. He emerged as top talent from the ponds of suburban Toronto into high school, where his coach told him: “The way to answer those remarks Herbie, is to put the red light on.’” | Such taunts would hit Carnegie from an early age. He emerged as top talent from the ponds of suburban Toronto into high school, where his coach told him: “The way to answer those remarks Herbie, is to put the red light on.’” |
| Carnegie would light many lamps over his career, even if his father, who emigrated with his family from Jamaica to Canada in 1912 (Herb was born in 1919), discouraged his son from taking his on-ice talents further. | Carnegie would light many lamps over his career, even if his father, who emigrated with his family from Jamaica to Canada in 1912 (Herb was born in 1919), discouraged his son from taking his on-ice talents further. |
| “[My father] knew that I wanted to play professional hockey,” Carnegie said. “He was told by his people at work ‘that your son will never play in the National Hockey League because the other boys won’t travel with him.’ Now I got that message when I was about 14, but that went over my head because I knew who I was, I knew what I could do. And that was a case of ‘I’ll show you.’” | “[My father] knew that I wanted to play professional hockey,” Carnegie said. “He was told by his people at work ‘that your son will never play in the National Hockey League because the other boys won’t travel with him.’ Now I got that message when I was about 14, but that went over my head because I knew who I was, I knew what I could do. And that was a case of ‘I’ll show you.’” |
| Carnegie made noise early in his pro career, teaming up with his brother Ossie and Manny MacIntyre for the Timmins, Ontario, based Buffalo-Ankorite Bisons in 1941, forming the first all-black line in hockey history. They had a trio of nicknames, varying in their levels of distastefulness: les Noirs, the Black Aces and the Dusky Speedsters. “[The fans’] reaction was, ‘There’s three of them?’” Carnegie told the New York Times shortly before his death. | |
| Carnegie’s prime years were spent in the Quebec Provincial League for teams such as Sherbrooke St Francis and the Quebec Aces. In the 1947-48 season he scored 48 goals while racking up 79 assists - 127 total points in just 56 games, a prolific tally that led to his second of three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards. | Carnegie’s prime years were spent in the Quebec Provincial League for teams such as Sherbrooke St Francis and the Quebec Aces. In the 1947-48 season he scored 48 goals while racking up 79 assists - 127 total points in just 56 games, a prolific tally that led to his second of three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards. |
| Béliveau called him one of the greatest players he ever saw, and Conn Smythe, the then owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs also noticed Carnegie’s can’t miss on-ice skill set. “I’ll give $10,000 to anyone who can turn Herb Carnegie white,” Smythe allegedly said. | Béliveau called him one of the greatest players he ever saw, and Conn Smythe, the then owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs also noticed Carnegie’s can’t miss on-ice skill set. “I’ll give $10,000 to anyone who can turn Herb Carnegie white,” Smythe allegedly said. |
| In 1946, Carnegie was skating for the Aces in Quebec City, 150 miles northeast of Montreal where Jackie Robinson’s journey to the big leagues began. A year later Robinson was playing first base in Brooklyn, and Carnegie felt it was just a matter of time before he would break the NHL’s color line. “Frankly I was delighted that it happened because in a sense it opened up a possible discussion in the boardroom,” said Carnegie. | In 1946, Carnegie was skating for the Aces in Quebec City, 150 miles northeast of Montreal where Jackie Robinson’s journey to the big leagues began. A year later Robinson was playing first base in Brooklyn, and Carnegie felt it was just a matter of time before he would break the NHL’s color line. “Frankly I was delighted that it happened because in a sense it opened up a possible discussion in the boardroom,” said Carnegie. |
| That discussion came to a head in 1948, when New York Rangers general manager Frank Boucher invited him to their training camp. Carnegie impressed, but instead of signing him, Boucher said: “You’re an excellent hockey player, but I’d like to make sure by sending you to New Haven first.” | That discussion came to a head in 1948, when New York Rangers general manager Frank Boucher invited him to their training camp. Carnegie impressed, but instead of signing him, Boucher said: “You’re an excellent hockey player, but I’d like to make sure by sending you to New Haven first.” |
| Those words were said to have a devastating impact on Carnegie, who as a 29-year-old family man and proven scorer, wasn’t interested in anything less than the NHL salary he felt he deserved. Carnegie turned down three offers to play with Rangers affiliates. | Those words were said to have a devastating impact on Carnegie, who as a 29-year-old family man and proven scorer, wasn’t interested in anything less than the NHL salary he felt he deserved. Carnegie turned down three offers to play with Rangers affiliates. |
| “The most devastating thing to me was knowing that players on my team were getting the opportunity whose record wasn’t as good as mine,” said Carnegie. “Which clearly showed discrimination, and racism of the highest order. It was losing faith in humanity you might say.” | “The most devastating thing to me was knowing that players on my team were getting the opportunity whose record wasn’t as good as mine,” said Carnegie. “Which clearly showed discrimination, and racism of the highest order. It was losing faith in humanity you might say.” |
| In 1954, at the age of 34, Herbert hung up his skates without realizing his dream of playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Willie O’Ree would become the first black NHL player with the Boston Bruins less than four years later. | In 1954, at the age of 34, Herbert hung up his skates without realizing his dream of playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Willie O’Ree would become the first black NHL player with the Boston Bruins less than four years later. |
| Carnegie was bitter, but focused on transforming the negatives he experienced into positives, digging deep in finding a way to move on. In 1955 he opened the Future Aces Ice Hockey School – the first academy of its kind – where he taught children how to pass, stick handle and shoot. | Carnegie was bitter, but focused on transforming the negatives he experienced into positives, digging deep in finding a way to move on. In 1955 he opened the Future Aces Ice Hockey School – the first academy of its kind – where he taught children how to pass, stick handle and shoot. |
| “From my point of view, I was excluded from hockey,” said Carnegie. “I wanted something inclusive. And the idea came to me – if we have the fundamentals of the game of hockey, why can’t we have the fundamentals of how to live? And what are they?” | “From my point of view, I was excluded from hockey,” said Carnegie. “I wanted something inclusive. And the idea came to me – if we have the fundamentals of the game of hockey, why can’t we have the fundamentals of how to live? And what are they?” |
| Such thinking led Carnegie to write a 12-point philosophy called the Future Aces creed, which would develop into the Future Aces Foundation, a charitable organization opened in 1987 which continues to impact youths across the Toronto area. | Such thinking led Carnegie to write a 12-point philosophy called the Future Aces creed, which would develop into the Future Aces Foundation, a charitable organization opened in 1987 which continues to impact youths across the Toronto area. |
| “The Future Aces Creed is a guideline for people to show expectation of what a good citizen should be,” said Herbert’s daughter Bernice Carnegie, who is a founder and Senior Consultant. “It helps young people and all people to go forward with their life. To take a look at how they should choose to make responsible choices in life. It’s about what you do yourself to make a difference.” | “The Future Aces Creed is a guideline for people to show expectation of what a good citizen should be,” said Herbert’s daughter Bernice Carnegie, who is a founder and Senior Consultant. “It helps young people and all people to go forward with their life. To take a look at how they should choose to make responsible choices in life. It’s about what you do yourself to make a difference.” |
| Carnegie was still making students swoon well into his 80s as he gave speeches to schools. They were inspired by the positivity of his message despite the torment and disappointment of his ice hockey career. Carnegie’s Future Aces philosophy was a success with Ontario’s multicultural schools where today it’s distributed in 19 languages. | Carnegie was still making students swoon well into his 80s as he gave speeches to schools. They were inspired by the positivity of his message despite the torment and disappointment of his ice hockey career. Carnegie’s Future Aces philosophy was a success with Ontario’s multicultural schools where today it’s distributed in 19 languages. |
| Carnegie’s second-act successes also included a healthy career as a financial planner and golfer – he won two Canadian senior titles. Carnegie was named to the Order of Canada in 2003, but the recognition he sought from the Hockey Hall Of Fame never arrived. | Carnegie’s second-act successes also included a healthy career as a financial planner and golfer – he won two Canadian senior titles. Carnegie was named to the Order of Canada in 2003, but the recognition he sought from the Hockey Hall Of Fame never arrived. |
| The case for Carnegie to be elected to the Hall as a player or a “builder” seems airtight, but the 19-member selection committee (which will meet next month) has yet to recognize his role as a player and pioneer. The public may nominate a builder, player or a referee/linesman, while members of the committee may also nominate one in each category. This year, new inductees will be announced on 29 June. | The case for Carnegie to be elected to the Hall as a player or a “builder” seems airtight, but the 19-member selection committee (which will meet next month) has yet to recognize his role as a player and pioneer. The public may nominate a builder, player or a referee/linesman, while members of the committee may also nominate one in each category. This year, new inductees will be announced on 29 June. |
| Stan Fischler, the ice hockey broadcaster and historian, is unsure whether Carnegie will get recognition from the Hall of Fame. “The chances are not very good because he needs somebody to champion him, as it always is,” says Fischler. “It’s sort of like a lobbying effort - you have to have a group to give the Hall of Fame evidence. I’ve often said he belongs in the Hall of Fame, but my voice isn’t enough to get him in. They don’t know history like I do and he never played in the NHL.” | Stan Fischler, the ice hockey broadcaster and historian, is unsure whether Carnegie will get recognition from the Hall of Fame. “The chances are not very good because he needs somebody to champion him, as it always is,” says Fischler. “It’s sort of like a lobbying effort - you have to have a group to give the Hall of Fame evidence. I’ve often said he belongs in the Hall of Fame, but my voice isn’t enough to get him in. They don’t know history like I do and he never played in the NHL.” |
| Carnegie, for one, was sure he had support from hockey fans. “Yeah, it would be nice, my family would be delighted, my friends would be delighted,” said Carnegie before his death. “There’s so many people out there who are pulling for me to be in the Hall of Fame.” | Carnegie, for one, was sure he had support from hockey fans. “Yeah, it would be nice, my family would be delighted, my friends would be delighted,” said Carnegie before his death. “There’s so many people out there who are pulling for me to be in the Hall of Fame.” |