Some guys 'don't know their boundaries' how 2 black OHL players handle racism

The Ontario Hockey League (OHL), like everywhere else, has not yet figured out a way to end racism but,for at least two black OHL players, the league is a better place to play than anywhere else they have skated.

Paige Martin, the CBC'sOHL contributor spoke with Akil Thomas of the Peterborough Petes, who scored the tournament winning goal for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championships in January and Bryce Montgomery, of the London Knights, and got a sense of what life is like for black hockey players in the OHL.

You can listen to her full interview with the CBC's Conrad Collaco by hitting the play button above or read an abridged and edited version of the interviewbelow.

Paige Martin, OHL columnist with CBC London

What did Montgomery and Thomas have to say about their experiences with racism?

Paige Martin: When I talked to both Bryce and Akil they told me, yes, they do feel like they stand out in the league. But, what's interesting is they both said that being black in the OHLis a lot easier than what they've experienced playing on other teams when they were younger. Bryce Montgomery is a defenseman with the London Knights. He grew up playing hockey in Baltimore, Maryland. And when we were talking he told me he felt really alone as a black player for a long time.

PM:So yeah, when we were talking he told me that growing up he was often the only black player on his team and it was something that he noticed. He tried to not let it affect him too much. But he also had people ask him'why aren't you playing football or basketball? That's what you should be playing, not hockey.' And for him, he grew up playing every sport that there was. But it was hockey that he fell in love with and he loves the game and he wanted to stick with it. And he's such a talented player, now with the London Knights. He's so happy that he stuck with it.

But at the same time, being asked, when he's in high school, 'why aren't you playing football?Why aren't you playing basketball? That's what you should be playing.' Itkind of speaks to the greaterunderlying issue andsocial construct that there is there. Akil Thomas really related to that. He plays for the Peterborough Petes and grew up playing hockey in Florida before he moved to the GTA.

PM:What a way to address direct racism like that. And hegot that philosophy from his dad,Kahlil Thomas. He was also a professional hockey player and he experienced a lot of racism, on and off the ice, during his career.

Who do Thomas and Montgomery see as trailblazers?

PM: For Akil, it's definitely his dad. He would tell Akilabout these situations really as a teaching opportunity for his son to kind of say 'hey this might happen to you but this is how we deal with it. We channel it as fuel.' But it can be hard to find someone who looks like you as a young black person in the hockey world. I was really happy that I got to speak with Bill Douglas. He writes for the NHL and runs a blog called The Color of Hockey. It's a site full of news and profiles about players and fans of colour and the history that has come with it. And he's had lots of material to work with. There are hundreds of stories with people like Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the NHL. There's Angela James who was really the first superstar for women's hockey andone of the first two women inducted into the Hall of Fame and the fact that Bill's blog has been going strong for so long is just another sign that the hockey world is changing.

PM: So, they are bringing in new fans and, of course, new players who we hope will one day end up playing in leagues like the NHL.

The NHL is an enormous influence on all the leagues below it. How is the NHL working to promote diversity in the sport and to encourage young players?

PM:The NHL has tried something new the past couple of years for Black History Month that they started, an initiative called Hockey is for Everyone, to celebrate diversity and inclusion and to really emphasize that no matter where you come from or who you are this game is for everybody and a huge piece of that includes celebrating Black History Month. So, this month essentially a museum on wheels was touring a few different places in North America to showcase people of colour who have made a difference to the sport.The mobile museum did make stops in Canada as well in Ottawa andToronto earlier this month.

What influence do players like Thomas and Montgomery have on the next generation of black hockey players?

PM:I think that they're having a huge influence. You know these guys are young but they're aware of the impact that they're already having on their community and the next generation. Bryce Montgomery, the Knight's defenseman who's from the States told me the OHLis a refreshing place to be because he looks around at other teams and he gets to see other players that look like him. He talked about fellow OHLerQuinton Byfieldofthe Sudbury Wolves. Quinton is one of the top prospects in this year's NHL draft and so he is a huge influence. Akil Thomasscored the game winning gold medal goal for Team Canada at this year's World Juniors. That was the biggest goal of his career. And that's one of the biggest hockey events of the year and it's also one that a lot of young people are watching. So, I asked him,Akil what does it mean to you knowing that kids are now looking to you as a mentor in the sport.

Akil Thomas:My momkind of raised me to not be an average person and I just want to continue to do my best to not be an average person. Obviously, I scored a big goal as well and if there's black kids, Asian kids watching that game and they're thinking I want to be like him that means the world to me because there are a lot of people like that for me. I looked up to a lot of people so if I can help kids from all over the place and try to inspire them to accomplish big things that means the world to me. Alot of people do that for me.

What's happening in the OHL this weekend?

Hamilton isin Flint facing off against the Firebirds tonight and playoffs, of course, are just around the corner.