Leveling the Ice: Confronting Racism in Hockey

by Steven Sandor

A deep dive into the institutional racism and prejudice in the sport of hockey that persists across all levels - and how it will impact the future of the sport

While professional sports leagues claim to promote diversity and inclusivity, institutional racism remains apparent in all sports, but especially hockey. In Leveling the Ice, sportswriter Steven Sandor challenges the perception that hockey is open to everyone and the idea that the hockey establishment wants more inclusion and diversity.

Featuring interviews with NHL players of color like Darnell Nurse, Matt Dumba, Nazeem Kadri, Zach Whitecloud, Ethan Bear, Jason Robertson, Sandor reveals their stories of exclusion to highlight the deeply ingrained racism in the sport. The players share insights into the racism they faced while they built their careers as well as the racism, they still face today from the hockey establishment

From hockey’s racist past to the ongoing reluctance of the hockey establishment to embrace grassroots diversity initiatives, Sandor delves into how members of communities of color (who only make up 5% of the NHL) are being driven away from the sport to more inclusive ones like soccer and basketball, despite the NHL’s expansion to new markets and demographics with billion-dollar TV deals. Comprehensive and timely, Leveling the Ice grapples with how the institutional racism in hockey will directly affect the future of the sport.

Genres: Hockey, Sports

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

When I'm not writing books, I'm the features editor at the Edmonton Journal/Postmedia. I'm the former editor of Edify Magazine.

I am also a freelance writer, whose works has been published in more than 100 magazines, collections and newspapers worldwide. I am a freelance sports broadcaster, as well.

I like to listen to very loud music when I write. Like Slayer.

Reviews

[bailey]

i added a ton of books to my tbr while reading this, including: call me indian by fred saskamoose a fly in a pail of milk by herb carnegie, and changing on the fly by courtney szto! this book has a casual presentation, but it’s still obvious that it was thoroughly researched and you can tell a lot of care went into putting this together.

i do think the structure of the book could use some work? there are times sandor repeats himself, others where it feels like he hasn’t totally tackled an issue only for it to come back twenty pages later.

thank you to edelweiss for the arc!

[Cathy Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read an advanced copy of this book. The author covers the Oilers and provides a short comprehensive overview of racism that exists currently in hockey and the efforts that are being made to combat it from juniors to the NHL. Highly recommended.