By Sal Barry, Features Writer
1. WILLIE O’REE
1997-98 Pinnacle Beehive #75 & 1961-62 Topps #20
When Willie O’Ree debuted with the Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958, he was the first Black player to skate in the NHL. He appeared in two games for Boston that season and another 43 in 1960-61. O’Ree was pictured on a Beehive photo that fans could mail away for as well as a pair of minor-league cards during his career. He can also be spotted on the 1961-62 Topps card that pictures the 1961 Bruins team. O’Ree finally got his own rookie card in the 1997-98 Pinnacle Beehive set, an oversized set of cards named after the old mail-away photos.
2. ALTON WHITE
1972-73 Los Angeles Sharks Team Issue Set & 2009-10 In The Game 1972 The Year In Hockey #43
Alton White became the second Black player to play major-pro hockey and the first to play in the WHA when he suited up for the New York Raiders. White was traded to the Los Angeles Sharks early in the season and has a card in that season’s team-issued set. Almost four decades later, in 2009-10, White got a mainstream card when In The Game included him in its 1972 The Year In Hockey set, which spotlighted the best NHL, WHA and Soviet players from that year.
3. MIKE MARSON
1975-76 Topps #43
Mike Marson led his junior club in scoring during 1973-74 and was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the second round in 1974. He was the first Black player to be drafted and became the second to skate in the NHL. Marson appeared in 76 games for the Caps in 1974-75, scoring 16 goals and 28 points. The next season, Marson was issued rookie cards in the 1975-76 Topps and O-Pee-Chee sets.
4. VALMORE JAMES
2022 Upper Deck Heroic Inspirations
Valmore James became the first Black American to play in the NHL when he suited up for Buffalo on Nov. 1, 1981. He played seven games for the Sabres in 1981-82 and four for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1986-87. Despite playing 10 years in the minors, James did not appear on any cards during his career, and it wasn’t until recently that he got his own trading card. At the 2022 Heritage Classic outdoor game between the Sabres and Maple Leafs – his two former NHL teams – Upper Deck gave away oversized “Heroic Inspirations” hockey cards.
5. TONY MCKEGNEY
1980-81 Topps #144
Tony McKegney became the first Black player to score 40 goals in a season when he did so with the St. Louis Blues in 1987-88. McKegney skated in 912 games over 13 years with Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, the Rangers, St. Louis, Detroit and Chicago from 1978 to 1991. His rookie cards were issued in the 1980-81 Topps and O-Pee-Chee sets. Interestingly, the 1980-81 Topps set obscured players’ names on the front of its cards with a coating that could be scratched off.
6. DIRK GRAHAM
1986-87 Topps #143 & 1989-90 Topps #52
Dirk Graham made history three times in the NHL – but later in his career. He played parts of four seasons for the Minnesota North Stars, then was traded to the Blackhawks midway through his fifth year. In Chicago, Graham blossomed into one of the best defensive players of the early 1990s. He was named the Blackhawks’ team captain in 1989, making him the first Black player to captain an NHL team. He also became the first Black player to win the Selke Trophy (1991) and to work as an NHL coach (1998). Graham’s rookie cards are in the 1986-87 Topps and O-Pee-Chee sets. The first card to picture him wearing the ‘C’ is in the 1989-90 Topps set.
7. GRANT FUHR
1982-83 O-Pee-Chee #105
Grant Fuhr, whose father is Black and mother is from the Enoch Cree Nation, became the first Black player to win the Stanley Cup when he won it in 1984. He was also the first Black goalie to win the Vezina and the first Black player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Fuhr has appeared on more than 5,000 cards since his first NHL game in 1981. His rookie card is in the 1982-83 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set.
8. JAROME IGINLA
1994-95 SP #181
Longtime Flames captain Jarome Iginla was the first Black NHLer to win the Art Ross and Rocket Richard Trophies, to reach the 1,000-point mark – he scored 1,300 – and to win an Olympic gold medal in hockey. He was also the first Black player to appear on the cover of the popular NHL video game series (2003). Iginla had three different rookie cards issued in 1994-95, two years before his NHL debut, that pictured him with Canada’s U-18 team.
This article appeared in our 2025 Rookie Issue. Our cover story focuses on Dustin Wolf, the Calgary keeper who’s “jumped” in to help the team in its surprising playoff push. We also profile other sensational NHL freshmen: Macklin Celebrini, Matvei Michkov and Logan Stankoven. In addition, we look at some of the top rookies from the PWHL, the AHL and the CHL, and we preview the NHL trade deadline, with breakdowns for all 32 clubs.
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