The CI Aggregator is a compilation of recent stories regarding the hockey world, The Carnegie Initiative, our Board members, other industry influencers, similar organizations doing work to change the culture of the game, related issues, and anything aligned with our important mission to make hockey more inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.
A new edition is posted each Friday.
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WEEKLY RECAP: Friday, August 25, 2023
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Philly native and lifelong Flyers fan provides hope in hockey for underprivileged kids
Grevy created the 43 Oak Foundation, naming it after the address of his childhood home in Philadelphia
Jordan Hall, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Aug. 25, 2023
Growing up in East Oak Lane, the northern most part of Philadelphia, Sean Grevy Jr. realized at an early age that playing ice hockey was a privilege.
That most kids in his neighborhood didn’t know the sport because they never got the chance to know it.
In his eyes, the sport was special. Flyers players were icons. A chilly rink was everything.
But to so many others, hockey was an unknown.
Grevy’s uptown upbringing became a driving force in creating the 43 Oak Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on breaking the barrier for underprivileged and minority athletes who want to further their education through ice hockey.
The 34-year-old Grevy, an advertising executive and lifelong Flyers fan, founded the program in 2017, naming it after the address of his childhood home. While coaching hockey in Manhattan, he saw too many inner-city kids face racial and financial roadblocks as they tried to pursue the game they loved.
Instagram: Blackgirlhockeyclubca
Aug. 25, 2034
Today we are so excited to announce & congratulate our 2022/23 Scholarship Award Winners presented to you by @ctjumpstart !
These ladies are not only phenomenal hockey players but amazing students as well! We were amazed by their personal essays and could not be more proud to help fund and further their careers!
Congratulations Queens!👸🏽👏🏽🖤📚
Color of Hockey: Rivera provides LATAM Cup with NHL voice
Kings Spanish-language broadcaster did play-by-play for two games at tournament
William Douglas, NHL.com, Aug. 25, 2023
Francisco X. Rivera has given the 2023 Amerigol LATAM Cup an NHL voice.
The Los Angeles Kings Spanish-language play-by-play voice called two men’s games Thursday, marking the first time that games at the annual tournament were broadcast entirely in Spanish …
… Rivera, who also is a contributor for NHL.com/es, the League’s official Spanish-language website, said he has watched the LATAM Cup grow from five teams and 92 players in 2018 to 33 teams with more than 750 players representing 21 countries and territories at this year’s tournament, which runs Aug. 23-27.
Among this year’s participants are teams representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Venezuela, along with teams composed of players of Caribbean and Central American heritage. Teams representing Armenia and Greece also debuted at the tournament.
Players are skating in six divisions, including men’s Division I and Division II, a women’s division and teams in under-12, under-14 and under-16 groups.
The NHL and the Panthers are sponsoring the tournament. The Amerigol International Hockey Association received $35,000 (Canadian) from the NHL/NHL Players’ Association’s Industry Growth Fund during a Hockey Advancement event as part of 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend festivities.
First Woman Drafted To OHL Taya Currie Set To Play At Providence
Taya Currie, the first woman ever selected in the OHL Draft, will join Providence College this season to launch her NCAA career.
Ian Kennedy, The Hockey News, Aug. 25, 2023
Taya Currie, the first woman selected in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft is set to begin her NCAA hockey for Providence College.
Currie was selected by the OHL’s Sarnia Sting in 2021 in the 14th round, 267th overall. It was the first time in league history a woman was chosen in the OHL Priority Selection Draft. Currie was playing boys’ ‘AAA’ hockey at the time with the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, a roster that also included Toronto Maple Leafs’ first round pick Easton Cowan.
Kazakhstan to host World Championships B-Pool in October
Host nation will compete for the first time in the event and will be joined by Slovakia, Sweden, Japan, Finland and Great Britain
Stuart Lieberman, For World Para Ice Hockey, Aug. 25, 2023
World Para Ice Hockey has announced on Friday (25 August) that the World Para Ice Hockey Championships B-Pool will take place from 6-11 October in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event will feature six teams and be hosted by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Kazakhstan at Yerlan Arena. The top two finishers from the event will be promoted to the 2024 A-Pool.
The teams taking part will include Slovakia, Sweden, Japan, Finland, Great Britain and host nation Kazakhstan. It will mark the first time Kazakhstan competes in the event after finishing second at the World Championships C-Pool last season. The tournament will be round-robin format with the last placed team relegated to the 2024 C-Pool.
“We are thrilled to be bringing a World Para Ice Hockey Championships to Kazakhstan for the first time,” said World Para Ice Hockey Manager Michelle Laflamme. “The growth of our sport over the last few years has been unprecedented, and we are looking forward to some great competition from nations who have worked so hard to build up their teams over the last decade. This tournament will surely shine a spotlight on new rising stars and storylines to keep your eyes on over the next years.”
Elliotte Friedman net worth: How much wealth has NHL insider accumulated over the years?
Arnab Mondal, Sportskeeda, Aug. 25, 2023
In the realm of hockey journalism, few names resonate as strongly as Elliotte Friedman. Renowned for his insightful analysis and unparalleled insider knowledge, the Canadian journalist has not only cemented his reputation but also amassed a noteworthy fortune.
With a reported net worth of $8 million, Friedman’s journey from a dedicated hockey enthusiast to a prominent NHL insider is a testament to his dedication and expertise.
Friedman’s career took off when he joined CBC as a reporter and analyst, gradually gaining recognition for his deep insights into the sport. His diligent work ethic and passion for the game propelled him further, eventually leading to his role as a prominent contributor to Sportsnet’s “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcasts.
Through his engaging commentary and breaking news updates, Friedman established himself as a trusted source for all things NHL.
Beyond his television appearances, Friedman’s influence extends to his written work. His regular columns, notably the widely read “31 Thoughts,” provide fans with a window into the inner workings of the hockey world. This multifaceted approach has not only solidified his status as a reputable journalist but also contributed significantly to his financial success.
Rangers adding Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero to hockey operations
Mollie Walker, New York Post, Aug. 24, 2023
The Rangers are hiring Hockey Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero as a hockey operations adviser, The Post has learned.
Ruggiero, who is one of the most decorated women’s hockey players of all time, trained with Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury during his playing days, and they have kept in touch, per a source.
The two were inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame together in 2015.
Ruggiero will be involved in a little bit of everything as far as hockey operations go, similar to the roles Brian Leetch, Brad Richards and Ryan Clowe have held.
Transgender athlete laws by state: Legislation, science, more
Katie Barnes, ESPN.com. Aug 24, 2023
Since 2020, 23 states have passed laws restricting transgender athletes’ ability to participate in school sports in accordance with their gender identity. The laws vary from state to state, creating a patchwork legal landscape for transgender student-athletes wanting to participate in school sports.
In April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 734, a federal bill that mirrored legislation that had already been adopted by nearly half of the U.S. states. The bill declared that it was a “violation of Title IX” to “allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls.” It further stated that “sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” HR 734 passed the House on a party-line vote but has not been taken up by the Senate and is unlikely to become law. President Joe Biden has said that he would veto the bill.
The issue has spawned litigation in multiple states, and it is expected that the Supreme Court will eventually hear one of them.
Five Events Where Men’s And Women’s Hockey Could Collaborate
Ian Kennedy, The Hockey News, Aug. 24, 2023
There has been much talk of NHL involvement in the new professional women’s hockey league since the acquisition of the PHF was announced by the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises.
While the full extent of partnership between the new professional league and the NHL remains unknown, the groups continue discussions, and it’s likely mutual initiatives will soon come to light.
There are several logical opportunities to showcase the global talent of men’s and women’s hockey side by side. Here’s a look at five events that could become collaborative.
Price surprises youth players at Canadiens Hockey School
Montreal goalie gives kids advice, signs autographs
Anna Kulesa, NHL.com, Aug. 24, 2023
Carey Price made a couple of future hockey stars smile on Wednesday.
The Montreal Canadiens goalie surprised youth players at the Canadiens Hockey School’s Elite Week.
Price hid in the corner and left a couple kids speechless when he walked out.
Fuselli coached, played hockey
Brian Kelly, The Sault Star, Aug. 24, 2023
Hockey was a big part of John Fuselli’s life.
His coaching resume included working as an assistant under Ted Nolan with the Soo Greyhounds, leading the Thessalon Flyers and co-coaching Bawating Braves.
He died Aug. 11 at Sault Area Hospital. His age was not released.
The Greyounds boasted a lineup that included Denny Lambert, Bob Boughner, Adam Foote and Bob Jones during the 1989-1990 season when Fuselli worked with Nolan and fellow assistant Mike Zuke.
Whitecloud takes Stanley Cup to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
Golden Knights defenseman celebrates with community in Manitoba
Anna Kulesa, NHL.com, Aug. 23, 2023
Zach Whitecloud and the Stanley Cup were on cloud nine after a warm welcome on Wednesday.
The Vegas Golden Knights defenseman brought the trophy to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba to celebrate with his community.
Whitecloud and Lord Stanley arrived at the powwow grounds on horse and carriage. The defenseman then showed off his shiny companion and let fans touch and pose for pictures with the Cup.
New Whitehall rink already serving the Central Ohio hockey community
A loyal band of dek hockey players calls the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation’s new build home
Jeff Svoboda, BlueJackets.com, Aug. 23, 2023
Clinton White was the first one to discover it was ready.
He’s become a constant presence in rinks around Central Ohio as he’s picked up the sport of hockey over the past year-plus, and a few months ago, he headed to John Bishop Park in Whitehall to get some work in.
As part of a quarter-million dollar partnership between the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation and the City of Whitehall, a new street hockey rink was built in the eastern suburb, and White was one of the first to realize the project was ready to go.
NHL, NHLPA working to create international competition for February 2025
World Cup-type tournament would start rotation of events that would include return to Olympics
Dan Rosen, NHL.com, Aug. 23, 2023
STOCKHOLM — The NHL is working with the NHL Players’ Association to create an international competition to be held in February 2025 with the intention of beginning a regular rotation of Olympic participation and a World Cup of Hockey in the even years to follow, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said at the European Player Media Tour on Wednesday.
The NHL last held a World Cup of Hockey in 2016. It did not participate in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics or 2022 Beijing Olympics after going in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
“So if we do a ’25 international tournament, we do the ’26 Olympics, the ’28 World Cup of Hockey, the ’30 Olympics, the ’32 World Cup of Hockey, and so on,” Daly said. “That’s the goal.”
Daly said the 2025 tournament does not have to follow the same format of a World Cup of Hockey, which the League and the NHLPA held in 1996, 2004 and 2016. He said there have been no shortage of ideas being discussed.
Yahoo Finance, Aug. 23, 2023
SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 23, 2023 /CNW/ — The 2023 IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division I Group A kicked off in Shenzhen on Sunday. Teams from six countries, including the host China, as well as Denmark, Norway, Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands, with a total of 350 players are competing in the single round-robin tournament, playing a total of 15 matches over five days.
Shenzhen made Chinese sporting history as the first city in Southern China to host a top-level international ice hockey tournament. The tournament will be the highest-level international women’s ice hockey competition ever held in China after the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The magnificent launch show was created by Unilumin Group, a leading enterprise in the LED industry. Combining Lingnan architecture, Shenzhen spring bamboo shoots and other symbolic imagery, Unilumin’s creative content team produced a song of ice and fire for the audience using naked-eye 3D LED display, projection and other technology.
Minnesota Wild honor Jori Jones, Gustavus women’s hockey player killed in crash
WCCO, Aug. 22, 2023
The Minnesota Wild are honoring Jori Jones, a Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey player who was killed in a crash over the weekend.
Jones, 19, was traveling with three of her teammates for a team bonding trip in North Dakota when they crashed just west of Wilmar. The three others suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The Minnesota Wild put their sticks out to honor Jones, her family, the Roseville hockey community, and the Gustavus community. Jones started playing hockey at the Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association, where her father was also a coach.
Caps, FCPS to Host Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Hockey Clinic Aug. 26
Capitals Donated Hockey Equipment and Teacher Curriculum to All 16 Frederick County Public Elementary and Middle schools in Conjunction with Rink’s Debut
WashingtonCaps.com, Aug. 22, 2023
The Washington Capitals and Frederick County Public Schools will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and Capitals Try Hockey for Free Ball Hockey Clinic in honor of the completion of a Capitals outdoor ball/inline hockey rink at James Wood Middle School in Winchester, Va. While the rink opened in the fall of 2021, the ceremony and clinic were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and feature remarks from representatives with the Washington Capitals, Frederick County Public Schools and Top of Virginia Hockey Alliance.
A Capitals Try Hockey for Free Ball Hockey Clinic will follow the ceremony, featuring stations on stickhandling, passing, shooting and small games. The Capitals Try Hockey for Free programming provides free access to the sport to children and families across the region who have never participated in the game before. Click here to register.
In addition to supporting the construction of a new rink, the Capitals also donated hockey equipment and teacher curriculum to all 16 public elementary and middle schools in Frederick County.
Fischler: My Five Favorite Islanders Coaches
When the New York Islanders were organized at the start of the 1970s, they went from great to great in terms of their head coaching choices. Here’s Stan Fischler’s favorite Islander coaches.
Stan Fischler, The Hockey News, Aug. 22, 2023
… 4. TED NOLAN: I always had the feeling that this guy knew what he was doing. Ted was the guy who, if Hollywood wanted to cast a “perfect coach,” the producer would pick Teddy – because he looked like a winner. Granted, he didn’t win big on the Island, but he wasn’t given enough time. His first crack (40-30-12; .561 topped all coach percentages except for Arbour’s.
Brian Burke on committing to community, being yourself, and working with a new generation
RealAgriculture News Team, Aug. 21, 2023
For many a hockey fan, Brian Burke needs no introduction. An outspoken and dedicated lover of the game, Burke has served as general manager for four National Hockey League teams, winning a Stanley Cup in 2007, and was president of hockey operations for another two teams.
Last week, he took the stage at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference to share his perspective on what makes for great leadership, both on and off the ice.
Burke then sat down with our own Shaun Haney to capture some of what he covered in his keynote address.
Book Review: Hardscrabble Diamonds: Postwar Baseball In New England And The Maritimes, 1945–1960
Jamie Heap, Boxscore, Aug. 21, 2023
… In chapter seven, which is titled “Playing in ‘Color Bar Limbo’: Black Players in the Maritimes, 1946-1960,” readers will learn about Willie O’Ree, the National Hockey League’s first black player and star baseball player, who Howell tells us in the spring of 1956 “…joined two hundred prospects at the Milwaukee Braves spring camp in Waycross, Georgia.” The National Hockey League’s gain would prove to be Major League Baseball’s loss, as Willie O’Ree, who had previously had the opportunity to meet Jackie Robinson …
Color of Hockey: Capitals host inaugural Rising Stars Academy
More than 100 players participated in on, off-ice sessions at Washington’s practice facility
William Douglas, NHL.com, Aug. 21, 2023
Braeden Montague’s mother cut a family visit to Winnipeg short when she learned the Washington Capitals were hosting a weekend academy for elite players of color and drove for 24 hours so he could attend.
“It was important for him to see other hockey players of color who are successful,” Raveena Seeraj-Montague said of her 15-year-old son. “So I drove 10 hours on Thursday and finished it off on Friday.”
Braeden was all smiles on the ice Saturday and Sunday and was among 115 players — 97 boys and 18 girls — who participated in the Capitals inaugural Rising Stars Academy, a free on-and-off ice event to help players advance and to create a hockey community that players and families can tap into throughout the season.
USA Hockey Brings Blind Hockey Development Camp to Nashville
Preds Will Host International Series Between Team USA and Team Canada Blind Hockey Oct. 13-15 at Ford Ice Center Antioch
Emma Lingan, Nashville Predators, Aug. 21, 2023
Men and women from across the country with varying visual impairments gathered at Ford Ice Center Antioch last week for USA Hockey’s Blind Hockey Development Camp.
This marked the first time the Nashville Predators have played host to the program, which has been in existence since 2018. Camp attendees compete each year in hopes of making the roster and joining Team USA to compete in international play throughout the season leading to the Paralympics.
“Our team is comprised of 20 players – three goalies and 17 skaters,” said Mike Svac, Head Coach and General Manager for the USA Blind Hockey team. “Every year, we come together in August to reevaluate the existing team and make any changes. At this year’s camp, we’re on the ice four hours a day, Thursday through Sunday, and then we’ll go ahead and select the team for this upcoming year.”
The USA Blind Hockey team typically boasts a diverse roster, including both male and female players ranging in age from 15 to 54 years. Players come from all over the United States, traveling to Tennessee this year from as far as San Diego, Seattle, Maine and Washington, D.C. For those who have played competitive hockey earlier in their careers and lost their vision over time, Blind Hockey gives them an opportunity to continue to play the game they love. For those born with visual impairments, it’s a chance to learn a new sport and compete at a high level.
Girls hockey camp aims to build up love of the game — helped by Olympian Jayna Hefford
Training camp in Conception Bay South booming in 2nd year
Elizabeth Whitten, CBC News, Aug. 19, 2023
Girls from across Newfoundland and Labrador put on their skates, grabbed their sticks and took to the ice Friday to hone their skills at the Delaney Hockey Female development program.
The hockey training program is hosted through the weekend at the Conception Bay South Arena and is for girls aged seven through 15.
More girls than ever hit the ice this year, thanks in part to one of the coaches — four-time Olympic gold medallist and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jayna Hefford.
Hefford said girls have a place in the game, adding if they work hard and are passionate about it, “anything’s possible.”
“If they care about it, if they’re passionate, they want to work hard, you know, there’s no limits to what they can achieve,” said Hefford.
This camp is teaching blind youth how to play hockey — and helping the sport grow
Blind hockey development camp started in 2014 with a few players, now has 55 from multiple countries
Patrick Swadden, CBC News, Aug. 19, 2023
Joe Fornasier thought his hockey days were over when, at just 10 years old, he lost 96 per cent of his vision in two months.
The aspiring young player was diagnosed with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, a rare disorder causing vision failure, and told he would have to hang up his skates.
“It crushed me,” he said. “Pretty much my whole world flipped upside down at that point.”
But six years later, Fornasier became the youngest player ever to make the Canadian National Blind Hockey team.
The turning point, he tells CBC News Toronto, was when he enrolled in the Canadian Blind Hockey summer camp a few years after losing his sight.
Women’s soccer took one small step toward equity this World Cup. But giant leaps remain
Women World’s Cup players made 25 cents for every dollar men made at their tournament
CBC News, Aug. 18, 2023
What’s a world-class soccer player worth?
If you’re a woman, about one-quarter of a man, according to world soccer governing body FIFA. And that’s still more equal than the sport has ever been.
As this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand wraps up Sunday, observers say the small steps toward equity this time will need to pick up momentum if FIFA is to reach its stated goal of equal pay by 2026-27.
Laura Jane Robinson, a Canadian sports journalist and author, calls the pay discrepancy “appalling.”
“I think that generally people do believe on this planet that women should be treated equitably, and I hope that these numbers are going to change very quickly,” she told CBC News.
Coming to Kansas City: the first stadium built solely for pro women’s sports
The NWSL’s Kansas City Current, co-owned by Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, are months away from moving into a revolutionary venue
Olivia Empson, The Guardian, Aug. 17, 2023
…Beginning in the spring of 2024, just in time for their fourth season in the NWSL, KC Current will train and play matches in this new $120m facility. Located at the Berkley Riverfront Park, in the heart of downtown Kansas City, the stadium looks out onto the tranquil waters of the Missouri River. It boasts two grass pitches, Fifa-approved turf layering and rooms tailored to recovery, wellness and weight training. The squad will even have a high-performance chef on site.
Through the open corner layout, buildings across the city’s skyline silhouette across the stands, which can seat 11,500 people for the opening. This could possibly extend to 22,000.
For players and fans alike, this facility is a significant step up. Currently, the team plays at Children’s Mercy Park, a stadium further west of the city, near the speedway, that they share with Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City. Before that, it was a baseball field.
“Finally, people are going to be scheduling around us,” said Katrina Hawkins, a longtime fan and president of the KC Blue Crew, the Current’s official supporters’ group.
Rangers’ Chris Kreider talks joining NHL, NHLPA’s Player Inclusion Coalition
Sports Business Journal, Aug. 16, 2023
Rangers LW Chris Kreider recently joined the NHL’s and NHLPA’s Player Inclusion Coalition, a group of current and former NHLers and women’s professional players who will “work to ‘advance equality and inclusion in the sport of hockey on and off the ice,’” according to Mollie Walker of the N.Y. POST.