May 11, 2023
In episode #220, we had the honor of being joined by John Paris Jr., the first black coach in professional hockey.
During the 1993-94 season, he was hired by the Atlanta Knights of the now defunct, International Hockey League, marking the first time a person of colour had been appointed the Head Coach of a pro hockey team. The move paid off as the Knights would capture the Turner Cup and an IHL Championship that same season.
Listen as he discusses how he overcame the adversity of being a black hockey player and coach, the story of being scouted by Scotty Bowman, and the drive to get him inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.