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.
Please feed us news! We welcome submissions to be considered for the weekly “CI Aggregator. Send stories to “[email protected]” with “CI Aggregator” in the subject line.
WEEKLY RECAP: Friday, January 19, 2024
Scroll. Read. Click on headline for full story.
Angela James To Receive Carnegie Initiative’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James has been named The Carnegie Initiative’s newest Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
The Hockey News, Jan. 19, 2024
Angela James has been named the winner of The Carnegie Initiative (The CI) Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Air Canada. She is being recognized for her years of commitment to the game in a manner that embodies The CI’s mission to “work to ensure that hockey is inclusive, supportive and welcoming to all.”
James is regarded as the “first superstar of modern women’s hockey.” The Toronto native was a member of the Canadian Women’s Hockey team for a decade during which time she remarkably won four World Gold Medal and four International Pacific Rim championships. She also became the first and only Black woman to be named captain of the Canadian Women’s team. In 2010, she was one of two of the first women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Lifting ban, International Hockey Federation to let Israel compete in U20 tourney
Sport’s governing body reverses decision to bar Israeli team from competing in Bulgaria, saying it will have the necessary ‘security support’
Jacob Gurvis, The Times of Israel, Jan. 18, 2024
The International Ice Hockey Federation has reversed its decision to ban Israel from a world championship in Bulgaria.
In a statement Wednesday, the federation announced that it will have “the safety and security support needed” to allow Israel to take part in the tournament, which brings together the under-20 teams of six countries and begins on January 22.
The ban was not the first time Jewish or Israeli athletes had been penalized as fallout from the Israel-Hamas war — and it sparked international backlash.
Lake Nokomis freezes just in time for U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
Peter Cox, MPR, Jan. 18, 2024
The 19th annual U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are set to kick off with events Thursday, and games starting Friday.
Up until the cold snap of last week, it was up in the air whether the tournament would be held on lake ice.
“We’ve been fielding phone calls for the past month, obviously — what is it, about two weeks ago? We could have gone swimming out there,” said Jesse Delorit, the event manager for the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships. “Lake Nokomis is a lake that really grows ice quickly. So we’re just blessed with this lake. It creates the best ice in the Twin Cities without a doubt.”
Edmonton Oilers celebrate LGBTQ community
Nicole Siemens, Global News, Jan. 18, 2024
The Edmonton Oilers take on the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place Thursday, but the game isn’t just about getting two more points.
The Edmonton Oilers are hosting the annual “Celebrating Pride” game in support of the LGBTQ community.
“We are looking forward to celebrating the Pride community in Oil County and shining a spotlight on community leaders who are shifting the paradigm of diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Tim Shipton with the Oilers Entertainment Group Sports and Entertainment.
CHL partners with The Carnegie Initiative to promote diversity & inclusion in hockey
Christopher Séguin, CHL, Jan. 18, 2024
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL), alongside the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), is proud to announce a new partnership with The Carnegie Initiative (The CI) as part of its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion among its fans, clubs and the hockey community at large. This collaboration will see the CHL hold public screenings of the award-winning documentary “Beyond Their Years: The Incredible Legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil” at its two marquee events — the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow. The film captures the story of Herb Carnegie (hockey) and Buck O’Neil (baseball), who were both excluded, because of their race, from competing at the highest professional level of their sport. Yet, without anger or bitterness, they channeled that injustice into pioneering work that made their respective sports, and the world, more inclusive.
Pond hockey breaks the ice — and builds community in Lincoln Park
The casual pickup games being played in the heart of the city are akin to matches played in Wisconsin or further north.
Mohammad Samra, Chicago Sun Times, Jan. 18, 2024
Winter boots serve as goal posts. No referees call penalties. No goalies guard the small nets. The teams don’t have names. Sometimes they don’t even keep score.
But make no mistake. The impromptu pickup hockey games at North Pond in the Lincoln Park neighborhood represent Chicago hockey at its finest — in a setting more common in states north of Illinois than in the heart of the city.
“No matter who you are, strangers just kind of come together and pull together a game,” Stephen Nowelski, 25, said. “People are lending each other pucks and setting up nets and helping shovel the ice.”
New Haven PAL + NY Rangers Program Teaches Kids To Play Ice Hockey
New Haven kids ages 5 to 12 can learn to skate, play ice hockey, at Ralph Walker rink on Wednesday evenings through March.
Ellyn Santiago, Patch Staff, Jan. 18, 2024
The New Haven Police Department’s Police Athletic League —PAL—partnered with the New York Rangers to teach New Haven kids how to ice skate, and play the game of hockey.
New Haven residents, or any child that attends New Haven Public Schools from age five to 12, is eligible.
At the Ralph Walker rink, 1080 State St., on Wednesday evenings through March 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. for 5 to 8-year-olds and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for 9 to 12-year-olds.
Get a grip: Hockey N.L. reinstates post-game handshakes
Move comes less than a month after ban
Mike Moore, CBC News, Jan. 18, 2024
Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador says it’s reinstating post-game handshakes, less than a month after banning the long-standing tradition from boys’ minor hockey.
In a statement sent to Hockey N.L. members early Thursday evening and obtained by CBC News, the board says its minor council has been “monitoring and evaluating positive and negative impacts” of the change since its implentation.
“Based on the information gathered thus far and conversations with stakeholder and members, minor council will allow the return of post-game handshakes,” the statement reads.
In December, the controversial move made international headlines, including in Sweden, where players and coaches at the annual world juniors tournament were asked about the move.
Hockey N.L. cited post-game incidents — without specifics — that led to the suspension of players and coaches as its reason for the ban.
Tennessee man builds homemade ice hockey rink during wintry weather
WZTV, Jan. 18, 2024
Tennesseans are getting creative this week as snow and ice continue to blanket the Volunteer State.
One Nashville Predators fan used the opportunity to craft a homemade ice hockey rink in his backyard.
“With all these cold temperatures, I built a backyard ice rink to play hockey on,” said Jeff Senatore, who lives in Lebanon.
Gay hockey veteran says he’s not here for ‘fake inclusion’ after NHL Pride Tape scandalham
Ali Condon, ThePinkNews.com, Jan. 18 2024
Gay hockey veteran Brock McGillis has said that he’s not interested in making players “pretend they’re inclusive” in the wake of the NHL Pride tape scandal.
McGillis, who rocked the hockey world when he came out as gay in 2016 after he retired, has been dedicating his time to fighting homophobia in sport.
The former professional goalkeeper has been touring around Canada to meet with 100 different minor league hockey teams and speak to them about LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance – both on and off the rink.
Speaking to CTV News during a talk with two minor league teams in Ottawa, McGillis said that, by sharing his own story and experience, he hopes to “humanize the impact of trying to be gay within the sport” and to help players “recognise the impact” their words can have.
Special Edition Herb Carnegie T-shirts Created
CarnegieInitiative.com, Jan. 17, 2024
The Carnegie Initiative (The CI) and CCM Hockey, a leading manufacturer of hockey equipment, have agreed to an extension of their partnership that includes a number of new elements.
CCM will introduce two versions of special edition t-shirts featuring Hockey Hall of Famer and social justice icon Herb Carnegie. In addition, CCM is a partner for The CI’s upcoming annual conference in Toronto on January 30-31, 2024.
“We are thrilled to grow our association with CCM, a company with a 125-year history that has been an integral part of the lives of hockey lovers and the Carnegie family for generations. We are excited to launch this amazing next level of collaboration with CCM,” The CI’s Executive Director Shelley Nicholls stated.
The partnership between The CI and CCM launched last year with the creation of a collector’s edition Herb Carnegie Legacy Skate. The skate commemorated the past and present noting that Carnegie finished his hockey career in 1954 on CCM skates.
Big Apple to Motor City Tour a Major Success
Eric Hammerstrom, CarnegieInitiative.com, Jan. 17, 2024
If smiles could melt snow, there wouldn’t have been any shoveling needed at Clark Park Rink in Southwest Detroit this past weekend. For each inch of snow that accumulated during a stormy weekend, there were hundreds of smiles from a group of visiting players from Ice Hockey in Harlem (IHIH) and kids from the Clark Park Neighborhood who participated in “The Big Apple to Motor City Tour” over Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend.
When the group’s rainbow-colored school bus pulled into the parking lot at Clark Park Friday night, arena staff and volunteers were fighting a losing battle as snow piled up on the rink. The Harlem contingent laced up their skates, grabbed shovels as a unit, and defeated the elements, skating late into the evening. They returned Saturday morning for a bit more shoveling, followed by a whole lot of hockey.
Founding father of Little NHL tournament honoured by Maple Leafs and Marlies
Sam Laskaris, Anishnabek News, Jan. 17, 2024
Jim McGregor was already known for playing an important role in hockey history.
But McGregor, former chief of Whitefish River First Nation and one of the founding fathers of the Little Native Hockey League tournament, was beaming about a pair of recent honours bestowed upon him.
For starters, McGregor, who is 85 years old, was recognized as the Hero of the Game during the Toronto Marlies’ Indigenous Celebration Game held on Jan. 12. The Marlies are the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
Then, the following morning, McGregor had an opportunity to address the Maple Leafs’ players prior to their morning skate, ahead of their Indigenous Celebration Game that evening.
Former professional hockey player wants the next generation to shift the game’s culture
Kevin Gallagher, CTVNews Ottawa, Jan. 17, 2024
Brock McGillis is on a mission to make hockey a more inclusive sport.
The former OHL and professional goalie made headlines in 2016 after coming out as gay
“It was difficult to be gay in hockey,” McGillis said. “Especially in men’s hockey. I mean the language, the attitudes, (and) the behaviours in the locker room. We’re not very welcoming.”
The 40-year-old 2SLGBTQ+ advocate plans to speak to 100 minor league hockey teams in 100 days a journey that started in Vancouver in Nov. 2023 and will wrap up on Feb. 3 in Toronto, visiting teams in seven Canadian cities along the way.
Lundquist Named College Hockey Inc.’s First Director of Women’s Hockey
Former Bemidji State Standout, Minnesota Wild Exec Begins New Role Jan. 22
CollegeHockeyInc, Jan. 16, 2024
College Hockey Inc. Executive Director Mike Snee announced today the hiring of Sadie Lundquist as the organization’s first-ever director of women’s hockey. Lundquist, who officially begins her duties Monday, Jan. 22, will lead College Hockey Inc.’s efforts to raise the profile and expand the exposure of women’s college hockey.
“We were very fortunate to have many highly qualified and impressive people express interest in being the first director of women’s hockey with College Hockey Inc.,” said Snee. “Amongst this intriguing group, Sadie was the most intriguing. Sadie’s on-ice experience as an NCAA and professional player, along with her off-ice marketing and leadership expertise, made her such a compelling candidate. Combine that with Sadie’s infectious enthusiasm for women’s hockey, and we knew she was the ideal person to take on this important role.”
2024 IIHF U18 Women’s Worlds Championship Final Recap
Rochelle Richard, Women’s Hockey Life, Jan. 16, 2024
U.S. claims gold in thrilling showdown at 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s Worlds, Czechs make history with silver, and tournament scoring leader Chloe Primerano sets records as Canada beats Finland 8-1 for the bronze medal.
The 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship concluded with an impressive victory for the United States, marking their first title since 2020. The final, held in Zug, Switzerland, saw the U.S. triumph over Czechia with a convincing 5-1 scoreline.
In a thrilling and hard-fought match on Sunday night, the U.S. showcased their prowess, deserving every bit of their first gold medal in four years. Despite their dominance, the Czech team displayed resilience, making the Americans work hard for their victory.
Meet the Hockey Diehards Building NHL-Worthy Rinks in Their Backyards
Some homeowners spend hundreds of thousands to create the perfect setup
Matt Schweitzer’s backyard ice rink, in Westford, Mass., is a gathering place for family, friends and hockey teammates.
Jessica Flint, The Wall Street Journal, Jan. 16, 2024
Some people might have questioned whether David Weiss, 64, was taking his home ice-rink hobby a little too far when, in summer 2021, he spent $200,000 renovating the second floor of his house in Toronto to build what he calls a skybox—a glass room overlooking his backyard outdoor hockey rink, emulating a professional sports stadium’s V.I.P. viewing area.
But it is hard to argue with Weiss’s logic: His rink is, indeed, a sight to behold.
New Jersey Stage, Jan. 16, 2024
The Grunin Center for the Arts presents a screening of the documentary “Beyond Their Years: The Incredible Legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil” on Thursday, February 29th. The film will be screened at 11:00am and 6:00pm with a panel discussion following the evening screening. The film depicts the compelling story of parallel lives lived by sports and social justice icons Herb Carnegie (hockey) and Buck O’Neil (baseball), who were excluded, because of their race, from competing at the highest professional leagues of the sports they loved …
Following the 6:00pm screening will be a panel discussion featuring Bryant McBride, first Black Vice-President at The NHL, where he brought Willie O’Ree back into the NHL; and Bernice Carnegie, daughter of Herb Carnegie and co-founder of The Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation.
Legendary broadcasters take fans on a Hockey Day trip down memory lane
Hot Stove kicks off Hockey Day in Canada festivities
Darren Stone, Times Colonist, Jan. 17, 2024
The years melted away Tuesday night as five icons of sports broadcasting kept a sold-out audience at rapt attention at the Bayview Place Presentation Centre with stories about athletes ranging from Muhammad Ali to Bobby Orr.
The Legends of Broadcasting Hot Stove was the first event of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, which continues through the week culminating with the Sportsnet national broadcast from Victoria.
Inner City Youth Hockey program looking to attract Flint children to the sport
Fuad Shalhout, MLive.com, Jan. 17, 2024
The Inner City Youth Hockey program is back again in Flint.
Led by hockey aficionado Rico Phillips, the program is designed to attract Flint children to learn the sport of hockey and fall in love with it.
The retired Flint firefighter is introducing ice hockey and ice skating to Flint youth ages 7-12 by creating the Inner City Youth Hockey program for the 10th year.
Victoria busy preparing for Hockey Day in Canada spotlight
Events run Thursday through Saturday at the Inner Harbour and other Victoria locations. Scenes from Victoria on Sportsnet nine-hour TV hockey broadcast on Saturday
Cleve Dheensaw, Vancouver Sun, Jan. 16, 2024
John Wilson watched crews put the final touches Monday on the synthetic-ice skating rink at Ship Point, which will be the focal point of the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada festivities from Thursday to Saturday.
The $100,000 rink fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, which is an apt metaphor for the entire operation.
Toronto’s pro hockey franchises stage Indigenous Celebration games
Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com, Jan. 15, 2024
Victor Linklater is pleased the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise is doing its bit towards advancing reconciliation.
The National Hockey League team staged its second annual Indigenous Celebration Game on Jan. 13.
“As we move towards reconciliation, we’d like to see more events like this across the country,” said Linklater, the deputy grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a political organization that represents 51 First Nations in northern Ontario.
PWHL Announces Showcase Rosters For NHL All-Star Thursday
The PWHL has named 24 players who will participate in NHL All-Star Thursday in a PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase.
Ian Kennedy, The Hockey News, Jan. 15, 2024
The PWHL and NHL announced today the rosters for the Canadian Tire PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase™, taking place during NHL All-Star Thursday™ on Feb. 1 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The Canadian Tire PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase will see players from all six Professional Women’s Hockey League teams compete in a 20-minute game. The rosters, each comprised of 12 players (10 skaters and two goaltenders), have won a combined 146 Olympic and 46 World Championship medals as well as 17 NCAA Division I Championships. PWHL Special Advisor Cassie Campbell-Pascall (Team King) and New Jersey Devils Director of Player Development, Meghan Duggan (Team Kloss) will be behind the benches. The two teams have been named in honor of Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss — PWHL Advisory Board members and long-time advocates of equality for women in sports.
Color of Hockey: Jaques savoring roles in PWHL, Canada-U.S. Rivalry Series
Defenseman enjoying ‘buzz continuing to grow around’ women’s game
William Douglas, NHL.com, Jan. 14, 2024
Sophie Jaques is relishing being a double rookie.
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner as NCAA Division I’s top hockey player in 2023 is a first-year pro after she was selected in the second round (No. 10) by Boston of the new Professional Women’s Hockey League.
And the 23-year-old defenseman made her international debut on Nov. 11 representing Canada for the first time on its women’s national team in the Rivalry Series against the United States.
Empowering the ice: Charting a new horizon for women in professional hockey
The newly-formed PWHL represents women’s counterpart to the NHL
Dihyah Khan, The Varsity, Jan. 14, 2024
The NHL boasts a rich history, including legendary names like Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby. From the camaraderie of watching NHL games in vast arenas to the grassroots action in local rinks, ice hockey itself transcends just being a sport. It embodies undying passion, hard work, and community bonds — qualities that are often overlooked.
As the sport continues to evolve, a new chapter is unfolding for women hockey players. The introduction of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in July 2023 and the beginning of its first season earlier this month marks a significant milestone, as it represents women’s counterpart to the revered NHL.
PWHL stands as a symbol of inclusivity, hope, and resilience, offering a new platform for women to showcase their skills and nurture the sport for generations to come. Most importantly, this league is a groundbreaking opportunity for women to redefine their place in hockey while casting aside historical limitations and stereotypes.
Scott Wheeler and Eric Stephens, The Athletic, Jan. 13, 2024
Nikita Nesterenko had awakened from an afternoon nap on Monday when he received a cellphone notification. Nesterenko, a former Boston College forward now playing for the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls, saw the name of former college teammate Cutter Gauthier pop up in a post sent out by the Anaheim Ducks.
“Originally, I felt like they were just congratulating him on the world juniors or something,” Nesterenko said. “Something weird. Maybe some kind of connection. And then I saw they acquired him. I was like, ‘Wow, that’s crazy.’”
The Ducks had traded Jamie Drysdale, a defenseman they drafted with the No. 6 pick in 2020, and a 2025 second-round pick for Gauthier, the No. 5 pick in 2022. The deal sent shockwaves throughout the hockey world, leaving the Philadelphia Flyers disillusioned and enraging large swaths of their passionate fan base.
Crechiolo Breaks Barrier as Color Commentator on Penguins Radio Broadcast
Andi Perelman, Pittsburgh Penguins, Jan. 12, 2024
Since the first Pittsburgh Pirates radio broadcast on August 5, 1921, local sports fans have heard the legendary voices of Myron Cope, Mike Lange, Bob Prince and many others. But one thing they hadn’t heard, was the voice of a woman.
Fast forward over 100 years later, and a woman’s voice has joined the fold for the first time.
Enter: Michelle Crechiolo. On Jan. 8, 2024, Crechiolo made history by providing color commentary on the Penguins’ radio broadcast.
TBOS Episode 109 – Edina, MN native, former junior player, attorney and author – Anthony Walsh
Mogy and JC, Thebreakoutsessions, Jan. 11, 2024
Anthony was adopted into an athletic, but non-hockey playing family. Listen as he takes us through his rise through the ranks of the powerhouse Edina Youth Hockey program and, ultimately, to a state high school hockey championship. Anthony tells us where he is in his life now as well as some of the challenges he faced growing up as a black hockey player.