Hockey is not considered the most accessible sport, and inevitably less so for visible minorities.
Anthony Duclair and Bokondji Imama, two black National Hockey League players, wanted to address the problem by starting a camp for young minorities aged eight to 15 in Pierrefonds.
They were invited to the Salut Bonjour program to discuss it on Tuesday. See it in the video above.
“When we were young, we didn’t have access to such a camp,” explains Imama. At work, you sometimes forget to have fun. But seeing young people full of enthusiasm and fire in their eyes is refreshing, I think.
Duclair remembers when he stood out in the hockey world as a young black man.
“I, I heard everything, I saw everything,” he confided. Sometimes it’s very difficult because you’re the only black guy on both teams.”
Obviously mentalities have evolved and once players get into the pro ranks they are more mature. However, according to the Imama, there is still a lot to be done.
“It’s maybe just a little more indiscreet and insidious. Anthony and I are trying to do our part.
“Business”
Duclair has been going through the full range of emotions over the past few months. An Achilles tendon injury limited the forward to 20 regular-season games in the 2022-23 season, but he was instrumental in the Florida Panthers’ amazing playoff run, which they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Duclair was then traded to the San Jose Sharks in the offseason.
“Hockey is a business,” he summarized with a smile, preferring to laugh. I am very excited to join the Sharks, a great organization. I spoke to the manager [Mike Grier], who is the first black GM in the NHL. It’s still special. When I was young, I used to watch him play.
Reaves, work for Imama
When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed tough guy Ryan Reaves on July 1, the Ottawa Senators turned to Imama, also a tough fighter.
Imama doesn’t think this is a coincidence. In the east, Reaves and even Arber Xhekaj of the Montreal Canadiens will give him work.
“It’s going to be a busy and quite fun year,” Imama jokingly admitted. That’s what I play for.”