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Black Ice: The Val James Story
The first Black American in the NHL tells his story ― now in trade paper Val James received his first pair of skates for his 13th birthday and by 16, he left his home in New York to play in Canada, where he was the only black person on his junior team and, often, in the whole town. While popular for his tough play and winning personality, the teenager faced racist taunts at opposing arenas. The prejudice he encountered continued at all levels of the game. He became the first African American NHLer when he took to the ice with the Buffalo Sabres in 1982, and in 1987 he was the first black player of any nationality to skate for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his two NHL stints, James defined himself as a team player known for his pugilistic skills. As featured in a Fox News Black History Month documentary, on NHL.com, NPR’s Morning Edition, ESPN’s Olbermann, and in Newsday, the L.A. Times, and the New York Times, Black Ice is the untold story of a trail-blazing athlete who endured and overcame discrimination to realize his dreams and become an inspiration for future generations. This edition includes a new afterword that explores James’s legacy.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 17, 2020
I do not recall either of Val’s stints in the NHL. Growing up I was a Habs fan and my grandfather cheered for the Leaf’s and my father Chicago. And back then you got the games on CBC or listened in French. I spent about a half hour with Val in his current life. He was so outgoing and engaging I tracked down the book to read and review.
I am very thankful to have read this book. When I was in university, I had a black roommate who played football. He shared a few of his Father’s stories from the same era when Val played hockey. The book is often raw, at times emotional and very honest. Val captures his life in sports. He captures the racism he encountered. And he captured the lasting impact, some of which was only released by writing this book.
Over the years I have read biographies of several hockey players, and some pro wrestlers. Including Tie Domi, Wendel Clark, Kelly Hrudey and more, and none of them were as intense of this story. Val writes about the victories, the failures and the constant change. He played in 7 leagues and for 11 teams over 16 seasons. He was drafted 184 in round 16 of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft. His two stints in the NHl were in the 1981-82 season for the Buffalo sabres and the 1986-1987 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. For the leagues with states he racked up 1371 regular season penalty minutes and 296 playoff minutes. He was the first American born black NHL player and the first black player to dress for the Maple Leafs. He was the first in a lot of leagues and towns he played in.
One of the greatest sections in this volume is towards the end where numerous people share their impressions, experience and memories of Val on and off the ice. The testimonies from players, coaches, refs and even opponents speak to the character of the man.
Val would never take advantage of an opponent once they were down, no sucker punches, no dirty stick work. But if you used racial slurs or went after his teammates you would pay a heavy price. There are two different stories of him ripping out the divider between penalty boxes to finish the fight.
I picked up this book to read after meeting Val. He is one of the most joyful and encouraging people I have ever met. It was fantastic to spend a brief amount of time with him. My won who is twelve was interested in reading this after me. But It is not appropriate for his age. There are a few trysts recalled that I just do not want my son reading.
But it is a fascinating read. And I am thankful to have encountered the man and to have read the book.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
I am very thankful to have read this book. When I was in university, I had a black roommate who played football. He shared a few of his Father’s stories from the same era when Val played hockey. The book is often raw, at times emotional and very honest. Val captures his life in sports. He captures the racism he encountered. And he captured the lasting impact, some of which was only released by writing this book.
Over the years I have read biographies of several hockey players, and some pro wrestlers. Including Tie Domi, Wendel Clark, Kelly Hrudey and more, and none of them were as intense of this story. Val writes about the victories, the failures and the constant change. He played in 7 leagues and for 11 teams over 16 seasons. He was drafted 184 in round 16 of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft. His two stints in the NHl were in the 1981-82 season for the Buffalo sabres and the 1986-1987 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. For the leagues with states he racked up 1371 regular season penalty minutes and 296 playoff minutes. He was the first American born black NHL player and the first black player to dress for the Maple Leafs. He was the first in a lot of leagues and towns he played in.
One of the greatest sections in this volume is towards the end where numerous people share their impressions, experience and memories of Val on and off the ice. The testimonies from players, coaches, refs and even opponents speak to the character of the man.
Val would never take advantage of an opponent once they were down, no sucker punches, no dirty stick work. But if you used racial slurs or went after his teammates you would pay a heavy price. There are two different stories of him ripping out the divider between penalty boxes to finish the fight.
I picked up this book to read after meeting Val. He is one of the most joyful and encouraging people I have ever met. It was fantastic to spend a brief amount of time with him. My won who is twelve was interested in reading this after me. But It is not appropriate for his age. There are a few trysts recalled that I just do not want my son reading.
But it is a fascinating read. And I am thankful to have encountered the man and to have read the book.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
August 7, 2018
I took an Intro to African American Studies class during my Freshman year of college. This autobiography reminded me of this fascinating documentary we watched about Muhammad Ali. Unlike other documentaries, this one was a test on our understanding of language and critical thinking skills. We weren't watching the film to learn something new about Muhammad Ali, but observe the perspective others had on Ali. The reason this autobiography evoked that memory was because the language of Black Ice seemed as though Valmore James was looking through someone else's eyes to observe himself. Sure we get surface level emotions of rage, hurt, and embarrassment from the racism, discrimination, and hatred he endured in both the United States and Canada as a Black American hockey player. However, the reactions are generic and stale, providing little insight - there are no life lessons or conclusions. For example, there were quite a few instances angry crowds chanted racial slurs and threw things at him. His internal turmoil is the strongest at this moment, yet it lacks the bias of transparency. Valmore James writing this book by his lonesome could be the catalyst in the paucity of effectively conveying emotion and the overall theme of surmounting the trials attached to his life.
Autobiographies are more than just a personal account and timeline of a person's life; it is also meant to be introspective and transparent - James fails to assert his narrative. Since the writing wasn't his narrative, it engendered a negative, problematic portrayal of James. Throughout the book, James is painted as an uncontrollable beast, hungry for blood and prone to violence. He calls himself a monkey (or ape) on multiple occasions. He wore the title of "beast" with honor (I guess because he was an enforcer) until he yearned to be a technical player rather than a brute. Delving deeper into the antics of the NHL and shed light on the atmosphere of NHL during James' playing career would've been nice. Especially since it seemed as though they neglected to give him a real salary.
I would have liked more backstory on Val James. Although we are introduced to his family at the beginning of the book we don't learn anything about his life outside of hockey pre-adulthood. There's a vague mention of his mother and siblings, but his father received a hefty amount of pages until his death. After that, we're just in a hockey world that James so happens to live in, despite the rare moments of introspection.
The reason this book fails is quite simplistic: It's not committed to anything.
Autobiographies are more than just a personal account and timeline of a person's life; it is also meant to be introspective and transparent - James fails to assert his narrative. Since the writing wasn't his narrative, it engendered a negative, problematic portrayal of James. Throughout the book, James is painted as an uncontrollable beast, hungry for blood and prone to violence. He calls himself a monkey (or ape) on multiple occasions. He wore the title of "beast" with honor (I guess because he was an enforcer) until he yearned to be a technical player rather than a brute. Delving deeper into the antics of the NHL and shed light on the atmosphere of NHL during James' playing career would've been nice. Especially since it seemed as though they neglected to give him a real salary.
I would have liked more backstory on Val James. Although we are introduced to his family at the beginning of the book we don't learn anything about his life outside of hockey pre-adulthood. There's a vague mention of his mother and siblings, but his father received a hefty amount of pages until his death. After that, we're just in a hockey world that James so happens to live in, despite the rare moments of introspection.
The reason this book fails is quite simplistic: It's not committed to anything.
January 24, 2018
This was a spur of the moment read and I’m definitely glad I took the trip. This was a really fun read with tons of character - and characters.
It’s always a crapshoot when choosing a title where you say to yourself “why does this guy deserve a book?” And while being the first American-born black hockey player, that’s not what this book is about.
I don’t remember the name Val James from his playing days (I would have been 10 or 11 at the time....paying more attention to some guy named Gretzky) but it’s not his quest to make the NHL that makes this story. The hard work, dedication and “never give up” attitude makes this an easy page turner.
Lots of great chapters of this story...the initial years of just learning the game, his leaving home to pursue his dream, learning the ropes and getting the call. Fantastic.
As well, the book really reads with character. It’s a little rough around the edges with some items being repeated or maybe the lack of identifying time periods....but it’s minor stuff vs. the overall effect this book has.
A really enjoyable book that has some good takeaway. I would definitely recommend it to any hockey fans out there.
It’s always a crapshoot when choosing a title where you say to yourself “why does this guy deserve a book?” And while being the first American-born black hockey player, that’s not what this book is about.
I don’t remember the name Val James from his playing days (I would have been 10 or 11 at the time....paying more attention to some guy named Gretzky) but it’s not his quest to make the NHL that makes this story. The hard work, dedication and “never give up” attitude makes this an easy page turner.
Lots of great chapters of this story...the initial years of just learning the game, his leaving home to pursue his dream, learning the ropes and getting the call. Fantastic.
As well, the book really reads with character. It’s a little rough around the edges with some items being repeated or maybe the lack of identifying time periods....but it’s minor stuff vs. the overall effect this book has.
A really enjoyable book that has some good takeaway. I would definitely recommend it to any hockey fans out there.
July 15, 2015
Buffalo Sabres' fans were used to having a black man on their favorite team in the early 1980s. Tony McKegney had broken into the NHL during the 1978-79 season, and he was still around in the 1981-82 campaign when he received some company.
When Val James came up from the minor leagues to make his NHL debut in 1982, he was something of a curiosity. Coach and general manager Scotty Bowman thought the Sabres needed some toughness, and James certainly could supply that. James played in seven regular season games and three playoff contests - not seeing much ice time along the way - and that was it as a Sabre.
However, Game One was a milestone of sorts. James became the first African-American to reach the NHL. That makes him a pioneer of sorts, and is something of a starting point for a book on his life in hockey, "Black Ice."
And speaking of starting points ... the very first part of James' book is the most compelling. He had just completed playing for the Sabres in a game in the Boston Garden against the Bruins. Afterwards, the Sabres' team bus was surrounded by a mob that broke the front windshield and chanted a racial slur. I'd never heard that story before, and I was covering the team at the time for a radio station. By the way, it's interesting that teammate McKegney didn't come up there or in any other part of the book.
From there, the book is a straight-forward recap of James' hockey career. It's an unusual story. His parents moved from the South to Long Island in search of a better life. James' father eventually became a rink manager in Commack, where a minor league team played. Thus James had a connection to such personalities as John Brophy and John Muckler. James picked up the game pretty quickly, and his great size and condition quickly gave him a reputation in hockey circles as a physical force to consider at all times. As a youngster he played in a league that was spread out around the New York City metro area.
It was on to Canada and a shot for James to improve his hockey skills at a teenager. He was good enough to be selected by Detroit in the 16th round of the NHL draft in 1977. That allowed him to meet current Sabre coach Ted Nolan (another Red Wings draft choice) at training camp, but he was quickly cut. James bounced from senior hockey to a pro team in Erie, where Nick Polano used him as a security blanket for Erie in the Eastern Hockey League. In a league full of tough guys, James was as tough as anyone, and he played a role in helping Erie win three straight championships.
When Polano jumped to the Sabres, James came along to the Sabres' organization. The rugged forward spent four years in Rochester in addition to his cup of coffee in Buffalo. Then it was on to the Toronto organization, and four more games in the NHL with the Leafs, before retiring in 1988. As you can see, this is not the places for pages and pages of memories about NHL experiences.
The key point of the book centers on his treatment as a black player in a virtually all-white world of hockey. It wasn't too pleasant at times. Teammates told James to simply ignore such ignorant talk, but that's easier said than done. Opposing players sometimes offered slurs, and James "rewarded" them with a good-sized beating the first chance he got. Payback was more difficult with opposing fans, though. Heading into the stands in search of justice can get a player into trouble with the law as well as the league office.
While those sorts of stories are sad but interesting, the rest of the book won't be of much interest to most readers. He recounts fights and games from minor league games from 30 years ago, and it's difficult to make those gripping. For what it's worth, some of the material in the book is definitely R-rated. The book contains a brief reference to James' wife and a short, vague description about his current job, but otherwise this could have been written in 1990.
Most hockey enforcers generally are honorable people, who make the conscious decision to get punched in the head for living. James certainly comes across that way here, and as a good guy. It seems like his life would have made a good magazine story, but there probably aren't enough interesting details to stretch it into a book. "Black Ice," then, probably will only be of interest to those with a connection to James' career ... which doesn't cover a great many people.
When Val James came up from the minor leagues to make his NHL debut in 1982, he was something of a curiosity. Coach and general manager Scotty Bowman thought the Sabres needed some toughness, and James certainly could supply that. James played in seven regular season games and three playoff contests - not seeing much ice time along the way - and that was it as a Sabre.
However, Game One was a milestone of sorts. James became the first African-American to reach the NHL. That makes him a pioneer of sorts, and is something of a starting point for a book on his life in hockey, "Black Ice."
And speaking of starting points ... the very first part of James' book is the most compelling. He had just completed playing for the Sabres in a game in the Boston Garden against the Bruins. Afterwards, the Sabres' team bus was surrounded by a mob that broke the front windshield and chanted a racial slur. I'd never heard that story before, and I was covering the team at the time for a radio station. By the way, it's interesting that teammate McKegney didn't come up there or in any other part of the book.
From there, the book is a straight-forward recap of James' hockey career. It's an unusual story. His parents moved from the South to Long Island in search of a better life. James' father eventually became a rink manager in Commack, where a minor league team played. Thus James had a connection to such personalities as John Brophy and John Muckler. James picked up the game pretty quickly, and his great size and condition quickly gave him a reputation in hockey circles as a physical force to consider at all times. As a youngster he played in a league that was spread out around the New York City metro area.
It was on to Canada and a shot for James to improve his hockey skills at a teenager. He was good enough to be selected by Detroit in the 16th round of the NHL draft in 1977. That allowed him to meet current Sabre coach Ted Nolan (another Red Wings draft choice) at training camp, but he was quickly cut. James bounced from senior hockey to a pro team in Erie, where Nick Polano used him as a security blanket for Erie in the Eastern Hockey League. In a league full of tough guys, James was as tough as anyone, and he played a role in helping Erie win three straight championships.
When Polano jumped to the Sabres, James came along to the Sabres' organization. The rugged forward spent four years in Rochester in addition to his cup of coffee in Buffalo. Then it was on to the Toronto organization, and four more games in the NHL with the Leafs, before retiring in 1988. As you can see, this is not the places for pages and pages of memories about NHL experiences.
The key point of the book centers on his treatment as a black player in a virtually all-white world of hockey. It wasn't too pleasant at times. Teammates told James to simply ignore such ignorant talk, but that's easier said than done. Opposing players sometimes offered slurs, and James "rewarded" them with a good-sized beating the first chance he got. Payback was more difficult with opposing fans, though. Heading into the stands in search of justice can get a player into trouble with the law as well as the league office.
While those sorts of stories are sad but interesting, the rest of the book won't be of much interest to most readers. He recounts fights and games from minor league games from 30 years ago, and it's difficult to make those gripping. For what it's worth, some of the material in the book is definitely R-rated. The book contains a brief reference to James' wife and a short, vague description about his current job, but otherwise this could have been written in 1990.
Most hockey enforcers generally are honorable people, who make the conscious decision to get punched in the head for living. James certainly comes across that way here, and as a good guy. It seems like his life would have made a good magazine story, but there probably aren't enough interesting details to stretch it into a book. "Black Ice," then, probably will only be of interest to those with a connection to James' career ... which doesn't cover a great many people.
May 31, 2019
3.5 Stars.
This wasn't the best written book, but that's not unexpected when you're reading an athlete/entertainer memoir. Overall, I thought the book was really interesting. I enjoyed all of the actual hockey parts of the book, and the insight into how race played into his career is definitely important, especially since that's one thing that can still, unfortunately, be an issue with ignorant hockey fans to this day.
There were two main issues I had with the book that really knocked it down from 4 stars.
First off, I felt like it glorified violence to some degree. A lot of the fighting James did was understandable because it was based on both his role on the team and the horrible things people said to him. I did appreciate that he did make it clear that cheap shots aren't okay in hockey, and that fights should be a mutual decision. However, I felt like he really admired his father for using violence to stick up for himself; this is a tricky issue, because he was reacting to things that deserved that level of anger, but it still felt like a bit too positive of a view on it. I also don't like when people give today's players a hard time for wearing visors or trying to avoid fighting; safety is important and not everyone has to play the game the same way. So that little interlude at the end rubbed me the wrong way.
My second issue was that this book felt like it was written only for guys. That's fine, since I'm sure that will be the main audience. But writing a solid hockey book would still have attracted that audience if it hadn't included some of the more TMI/derogatory moments about women. There were a few times when James made judge-y comments about girls he met as a younger player, and that made me like him less. Also the whole section about the female "groupies" was pretty unnecessary in my opinion. He could've written a book that would appeal to men without that stuff, and a book without it wouldn't alienate to female hockey fans.
Overall, despite the issues I had with it, this is an interesting read for fans who enjoy reading about hockey history.
Received from NetGalley.
This wasn't the best written book, but that's not unexpected when you're reading an athlete/entertainer memoir. Overall, I thought the book was really interesting. I enjoyed all of the actual hockey parts of the book, and the insight into how race played into his career is definitely important, especially since that's one thing that can still, unfortunately, be an issue with ignorant hockey fans to this day.
There were two main issues I had with the book that really knocked it down from 4 stars.
First off, I felt like it glorified violence to some degree. A lot of the fighting James did was understandable because it was based on both his role on the team and the horrible things people said to him. I did appreciate that he did make it clear that cheap shots aren't okay in hockey, and that fights should be a mutual decision. However, I felt like he really admired his father for using violence to stick up for himself; this is a tricky issue, because he was reacting to things that deserved that level of anger, but it still felt like a bit too positive of a view on it. I also don't like when people give today's players a hard time for wearing visors or trying to avoid fighting; safety is important and not everyone has to play the game the same way. So that little interlude at the end rubbed me the wrong way.
My second issue was that this book felt like it was written only for guys. That's fine, since I'm sure that will be the main audience. But writing a solid hockey book would still have attracted that audience if it hadn't included some of the more TMI/derogatory moments about women. There were a few times when James made judge-y comments about girls he met as a younger player, and that made me like him less. Also the whole section about the female "groupies" was pretty unnecessary in my opinion. He could've written a book that would appeal to men without that stuff, and a book without it wouldn't alienate to female hockey fans.
Overall, despite the issues I had with it, this is an interesting read for fans who enjoy reading about hockey history.
Received from NetGalley.
July 25, 2015
A lot of people are willing to snap up books written by/about sports superstars. In hockey, there are several books about the stars. Readers may find some new insight about a sports hero, but a lot of what is in them is a reiteration of things that have already been seen in other books, or in the newspapers, or that the reader actually watched on television while they were occurring.
The folks at ECW Press appear to be taking a different tack. They have published books by and about the OTHER players. The ones who labored in relative obscurity. The ones who didn't retire to a comfortable financial nest egg and/or a cushy front office / broadcasting job, but instead had to figure out what else they could do with their lives and then labor to feed themselves and their family. The ones that have an interesting story to tell, but rarely get the opportunity to tell it.
I remember when Val James took a few shifts for the Buffalo Sabres; I watched the game he played against the Boston Bruins on televsion. At the time, I did NOT know he was the first American-born (and American-trained) black player to skate in the NHL; I learned that years later. And, until I read this book, I did not know about the ugly racial incident that occurred after that game.
“Black Ice” tells an interesting and inspiring story, interspersed with colorful characters. It talks about making the correct choices in a career – and in dealing with the consequences when the wrong choice is made (or when the “correct” choice has negative consequences). It talks about people who are honorable beneath a rough exterior – and ones who are horrible beneath a polished veneer.
I found the book to be quite an enjoyable and comfortable read, and a good investment of my money, as well.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded to 5 stars.
The folks at ECW Press appear to be taking a different tack. They have published books by and about the OTHER players. The ones who labored in relative obscurity. The ones who didn't retire to a comfortable financial nest egg and/or a cushy front office / broadcasting job, but instead had to figure out what else they could do with their lives and then labor to feed themselves and their family. The ones that have an interesting story to tell, but rarely get the opportunity to tell it.
I remember when Val James took a few shifts for the Buffalo Sabres; I watched the game he played against the Boston Bruins on televsion. At the time, I did NOT know he was the first American-born (and American-trained) black player to skate in the NHL; I learned that years later. And, until I read this book, I did not know about the ugly racial incident that occurred after that game.
“Black Ice” tells an interesting and inspiring story, interspersed with colorful characters. It talks about making the correct choices in a career – and in dealing with the consequences when the wrong choice is made (or when the “correct” choice has negative consequences). It talks about people who are honorable beneath a rough exterior – and ones who are horrible beneath a polished veneer.
I found the book to be quite an enjoyable and comfortable read, and a good investment of my money, as well.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded to 5 stars.
December 15, 2015
The untold story of the NHL first African American hockey player, who has yet to be recognized for his accomplishments and all of the harassment that he endured along the way.
December 16, 2020
Buffalo Sabres' fans were used to having a black man on their favorite team in the early 1980s. Tony McKegney had broken into the NHL during the 1978-79 season, and he was still around in the 1981-82 campaign when he received some company.
When Val James came up from the minor leagues to make his NHL debut in 1982, he was something of a curiosity. Coach and general manager Scotty Bowman thought the Sabres needed some toughness, and James certainly could supply that. James played in seven regular season games and three playoff contests - not seeing much ice time along the way - and that was it as a Sabre.
However, Game One was a milestone of sorts. James became the first African-American to reach the NHL. That makes him a pioneer of sorts, and is something of a starting point for a book on his life in hockey, "Black Ice."
And speaking of starting points ... the very first part of James' book is the most compelling. He had just completed playing for the Sabres in a game in the Boston Garden against the Bruins. Afterwards, the Sabres' team bus was surrounded by a mob that broke the front windshield and chanted a racial slur. I'd never heard that story before, and I was covering the team at the time for a radio station. By the way, it's interesting that teammate McKegney didn't come up there or in any other part of the book.
From there, the book is a straight-forward recap of James' hockey career. It's an unusual story. His parents moved from the South to Long Island in search of a better life. James' father eventually became a rink manager in Commack, where a minor league team played. Thus James had a connection to such personalities as John Brophy and John Muckler. James picked up the game pretty quickly, and his great size and condition quickly gave him a reputation in hockey circles as a physical force to consider at all times. As a youngster he played in a league that was spread out around the New York City metro area.
It was on to Canada and a shot for James to improve his hockey skills at a teenager. He was good enough to be selected by Detroit in the 16th round of the NHL draft in 1977. That allowed him to meet current Sabre coach Ted Nolan (another Red Wings draft choice) at training camp, but he was quickly cut. James bounced from senior hockey to a pro team in Erie, where Nick Polano used him as a security blanket for Erie in the Eastern Hockey League. In a league full of tough guys, James was as tough as anyone, and he played a role in helping Erie win three straight championships.
When Polano jumped to the Sabres, James came along to the Sabres' organization. The rugged forward spent four years in Rochester in addition to his cup of coffee in Buffalo. Then it was on to the Toronto organization, and four more games in the NHL with the Leafs, before retiring in 1988. As you can see, this is not the places for pages and pages of memories about NHL experiences.
The key point of the book centers on his treatment as a black player in a virtually all-white world of hockey. It wasn't too pleasant at times. Teammates told James to simply ignore such ignorant talk, but that's easier said than done. Opposing players sometimes offered slurs, and James "rewarded" them with a good-sized beating the first chance he got. Payback was more difficult with opposing fans, though. Heading into the stands in search of justice can get a player into trouble with the law as well as the league office.
While those sorts of stories are sad but interesting, the rest of the book won't be of much interest to most readers. He recounts fights and games from minor league games from 30 years ago, and it's difficult to make those gripping. For what it's worth, some of the material in the book is definitely R-rated. The book contains a brief reference to James' wife and a short, vague description about his current job, but otherwise this could have been written in 1990.
Most hockey enforcers generally are honorable people, who make the conscious decision to get punched in the head for living. James certainly comes across that way here, and as a good guy. It seems like his life would have made a good magazine story, but there probably aren't enough interesting details to stretch it into a book. "Black Ice," then, probably will only be of interest to those with a connection to James' career ... which doesn't cover a great many people.
When Val James came up from the minor leagues to make his NHL debut in 1982, he was something of a curiosity. Coach and general manager Scotty Bowman thought the Sabres needed some toughness, and James certainly could supply that. James played in seven regular season games and three playoff contests - not seeing much ice time along the way - and that was it as a Sabre.
However, Game One was a milestone of sorts. James became the first African-American to reach the NHL. That makes him a pioneer of sorts, and is something of a starting point for a book on his life in hockey, "Black Ice."
And speaking of starting points ... the very first part of James' book is the most compelling. He had just completed playing for the Sabres in a game in the Boston Garden against the Bruins. Afterwards, the Sabres' team bus was surrounded by a mob that broke the front windshield and chanted a racial slur. I'd never heard that story before, and I was covering the team at the time for a radio station. By the way, it's interesting that teammate McKegney didn't come up there or in any other part of the book.
From there, the book is a straight-forward recap of James' hockey career. It's an unusual story. His parents moved from the South to Long Island in search of a better life. James' father eventually became a rink manager in Commack, where a minor league team played. Thus James had a connection to such personalities as John Brophy and John Muckler. James picked up the game pretty quickly, and his great size and condition quickly gave him a reputation in hockey circles as a physical force to consider at all times. As a youngster he played in a league that was spread out around the New York City metro area.
It was on to Canada and a shot for James to improve his hockey skills at a teenager. He was good enough to be selected by Detroit in the 16th round of the NHL draft in 1977. That allowed him to meet current Sabre coach Ted Nolan (another Red Wings draft choice) at training camp, but he was quickly cut. James bounced from senior hockey to a pro team in Erie, where Nick Polano used him as a security blanket for Erie in the Eastern Hockey League. In a league full of tough guys, James was as tough as anyone, and he played a role in helping Erie win three straight championships.
When Polano jumped to the Sabres, James came along to the Sabres' organization. The rugged forward spent four years in Rochester in addition to his cup of coffee in Buffalo. Then it was on to the Toronto organization, and four more games in the NHL with the Leafs, before retiring in 1988. As you can see, this is not the places for pages and pages of memories about NHL experiences.
The key point of the book centers on his treatment as a black player in a virtually all-white world of hockey. It wasn't too pleasant at times. Teammates told James to simply ignore such ignorant talk, but that's easier said than done. Opposing players sometimes offered slurs, and James "rewarded" them with a good-sized beating the first chance he got. Payback was more difficult with opposing fans, though. Heading into the stands in search of justice can get a player into trouble with the law as well as the league office.
While those sorts of stories are sad but interesting, the rest of the book won't be of much interest to most readers. He recounts fights and games from minor league games from 30 years ago, and it's difficult to make those gripping. For what it's worth, some of the material in the book is definitely R-rated. The book contains a brief reference to James' wife and a short, vague description about his current job, but otherwise this could have been written in 1990.
Most hockey enforcers generally are honorable people, who make the conscious decision to get punched in the head for living. James certainly comes across that way here, and as a good guy. It seems like his life would have made a good magazine story, but there probably aren't enough interesting details to stretch it into a book. "Black Ice," then, probably will only be of interest to those with a connection to James' career ... which doesn't cover a great many people.
Read
November 27, 2023I always like to read a couple of hockey books when the NHL season starts each year and Black Ice: The Val James Story was the second one I picked up this year after One to Remember: Stories from 39 Members of the NHL's One Goal Club by Ken Reid. As I read Val James' story I was struck at the similarities in the two books. Not that Val James only scored one NHL goal, he didn't actually score any in 11 NHL games. (He did acquire 30 penalty minutes) Like many of the people featured in "One to Remember," James bounced between teams and leagues, trying to live a dream and make a living. As we watch the stars and the NHL regulars, it is easy to forget there are guys who are living their childhood dreams to "make it" as an athlete, but they aren't named Crosby, Ovechkin, or Gretzky. Sometimes, "making it" looks a lot like "barely making it" to fans.
That was the story I took away from Val James, a hard-fought (pun accidental) life in hockey that shows the other side of the glitz and glamour of professional sports.
Beyond that perspective is a fantastic autobiography of an unlikely hockey player who was born in Florida as the son of sharecroppers. James' story of moving north, working with his Dad, earning ice time, and overcoming the brutal realities of racism in hockey. While James focuses most of the story on himself and his rise through the hockey ranks, the racism is there... constantly. While James highlights the moments and memories of the worst experiences of racism in the U.S. and Canada, he also allows it to constantly follow the story in a way that reminds you a black hockey player is still something that makes a lot of the hockey world uncomfortable in the 1970s and 1980s.
This is an important book in the larger libraries of both hockey and the post-1960s civil rights movement.
That was the story I took away from Val James, a hard-fought (pun accidental) life in hockey that shows the other side of the glitz and glamour of professional sports.
Beyond that perspective is a fantastic autobiography of an unlikely hockey player who was born in Florida as the son of sharecroppers. James' story of moving north, working with his Dad, earning ice time, and overcoming the brutal realities of racism in hockey. While James focuses most of the story on himself and his rise through the hockey ranks, the racism is there... constantly. While James highlights the moments and memories of the worst experiences of racism in the U.S. and Canada, he also allows it to constantly follow the story in a way that reminds you a black hockey player is still something that makes a lot of the hockey world uncomfortable in the 1970s and 1980s.
This is an important book in the larger libraries of both hockey and the post-1960s civil rights movement.
February 19, 2019
While I am not a fan in particular of hockey and thus outside the competitive experiences of Valmore James; as a Black man I have a rooted empathy for Mr. James's response to the prejudice and small-mindedness running through his world. Val James's narrative is a revealing exploration of hockey culture in the '80s and '90s, together with an even more critical expose on the larger culture that shaped it.
January 8, 2021
Honestly, I really don't watch hockey. However, this book was so amazing and so engaging I felt like I was a fan that had been watching hockey all my life. The story of Val James needs to be told more. His story is incredibly inspiring. As the first black man to ever step foot on NHL ice, he got no recognition for this feat. It is a disservice to hockey in general for this story not to be told more. I loved this book. Highly recommend.
April 11, 2021
The book is a great read for any hockey fan! Val is vivid in his descriptions from cover to cover and elaborates on his time on each team he played for. It was also cool to find out that he had spent time playing under Scotty Bowman and Mike Keenan - two of the most recognizable coaches in NHL history. I never knew his story prior to reading this, and I am certainly glad that I picked it up.
October 25, 2017
A great story about the 1st black American player in the NHL. He talks about the racism he faced playing in the AHL and NHL. If you like hockey biographies, and films like goon and slap shot. You’ll love this book.
April 20, 2018
Absolutely amazing. I've been a hockey fan for years and this is a story I hadn't heard of before. It can be difficult at times but there are necessary lessons here about racism and the dynamics of exclusion in hockey.
February 10, 2019
Great story. I played minor league hockey in the south as well, this takes me back to the chaos and violence! You have to love Val's attitude, and one theme that is prevalent in hockey, you have to work hard for everything that you get.
June 26, 2022
Tore thru this in a couple days. Great, sometimes painful read as Val toils in the minors, working his way to NHL with his fists and dealing with about as much racist bullshit you’d imagine as the only black hockey player passing thru small cities of small people.
February 23, 2024
To be clear, this is not this best written book I've read, but Val's story is interesting, and the adversity he faced as the first black American in the NHL is both sad and inspiring. Interesting hockey stories, particularly if you like enforcers.
May 22, 2019
Interesting story. Val was tough as nails. Not very well written though.
December 1, 2021
Great story
It was very interesting story. The obstacles the author faced were many but persevered because of his determination and love of the sport.
It was very interesting story. The obstacles the author faced were many but persevered because of his determination and love of the sport.
June 19, 2022
A great read, I finished in a day! I couldn’t put it down. Val is a great story teller.
December 22, 2022
Probably somewhere between 2.5-3. Was interesting to read his story and the battles and terrible racism he faced through his career, but I did find a little repetitive about fighting. Despite his thoughts on modern players wearing full cages and more gear, this story made me thankful that there’s more protection for players and less fighting across the game.
January 26, 2016
Valmore James first put on a pair of ice skates at the age of 13 - an age when most future hockey players were being scouted for the minor/major leagues. He was also the first Black American to play in the NHL - at a time when the NHL had only approx. 5% American players. He faced constant racial taunting, predominantly from opposing team fans, but also from players. He responded by using his rage at the racism to pound opposing team enforcers into submission.
If you are not a hockey fan, and a fan of fighting in hockey this book is probably not for you. I am not a fan of fighting but I know it has always been a part of the game, and that amongst players there is a code of conduct -which not all adhere to - James did, he fought by the rules.
James' role in the game was to be the Enforcer, to fight. It was not something he enjoyed, and he was known to be a fair fighter, one who never took a dirty shot or fought to injure.
The book recounts his story, how he came to learn to skate and play hockey, how he made his way up to the NHL (and down), and what it was like to be an Enforcer. It touches on the friendships he made amongst other players, coaches and referees. It touches on life away from home, being billeted with hometown families, on being hailed as a hometown hero and what it was like on the road. It does not really offer a lot of insight into any of these aspects of the life of a hockey player, just some anecdotes. James played with some players who became well known in the hockey world, but he does not really talk about them very much. he does talk about some well known coaches, notably Mike Keenan and John Brophy.
Some reviewers here have complained about how he wrote about encounters with women/groupies which I found funny, because he really writes so little about this and when he does it is never in detail at all - as another reviewer mentioned, it felt like he was protecting his wife and family by not disclosing any real info about what surely happened!
The tales of racism in small town USA and Canada reminded me of similar stories (fictional) told in one of my favorite books - Indian Horse. The fact that is was (still) happening in the 70's - 80's is just so sad and infuriating. The fact that it happens now - (to P.K Subban and other non-white NHL players) is reprehensible.
James is not a gifted writer but he has a unique story to tell; about hockey and racism. At the end he looks back at how he handled his anger at the slurs and catcalls (and worse) and comes to terms with his response and how it factored into his life in the game. He only fought on the ice, and was otherwise known as an upstanding guy.
A quick interesting read.
If you are not a hockey fan, and a fan of fighting in hockey this book is probably not for you. I am not a fan of fighting but I know it has always been a part of the game, and that amongst players there is a code of conduct -which not all adhere to - James did, he fought by the rules.
James' role in the game was to be the Enforcer, to fight. It was not something he enjoyed, and he was known to be a fair fighter, one who never took a dirty shot or fought to injure.
The book recounts his story, how he came to learn to skate and play hockey, how he made his way up to the NHL (and down), and what it was like to be an Enforcer. It touches on the friendships he made amongst other players, coaches and referees. It touches on life away from home, being billeted with hometown families, on being hailed as a hometown hero and what it was like on the road. It does not really offer a lot of insight into any of these aspects of the life of a hockey player, just some anecdotes. James played with some players who became well known in the hockey world, but he does not really talk about them very much. he does talk about some well known coaches, notably Mike Keenan and John Brophy.
Some reviewers here have complained about how he wrote about encounters with women/groupies which I found funny, because he really writes so little about this and when he does it is never in detail at all - as another reviewer mentioned, it felt like he was protecting his wife and family by not disclosing any real info about what surely happened!
The tales of racism in small town USA and Canada reminded me of similar stories (fictional) told in one of my favorite books - Indian Horse. The fact that is was (still) happening in the 70's - 80's is just so sad and infuriating. The fact that it happens now - (to P.K Subban and other non-white NHL players) is reprehensible.
James is not a gifted writer but he has a unique story to tell; about hockey and racism. At the end he looks back at how he handled his anger at the slurs and catcalls (and worse) and comes to terms with his response and how it factored into his life in the game. He only fought on the ice, and was otherwise known as an upstanding guy.
A quick interesting read.
March 6, 2016
A fascinating story of how a young boy was around a skating rink because his father was working there and then learned how to play hockey and took that into a profession. Of course not that easy. Val James was born in Florida and then his family moved to Long Island, it was there that his father got a job working at a rink and also worked out for his son to learn how to skate. From there he started playing on a local team at the rink and as he grew he grew with the team and he was able to practice more because of being able to use the rink. On the team and every team he was on he was the only African American so you can imagine the things that were said to him not just by the opposing team but also by people in the stands. He would leave home and go to Canada to play junior hockey where he was the only African American in the town. The town accepted him along with the team and the longer he played he began to be known as an enforcer. This was back in the time when fighting happened all the time he would go on to fight some of the biggest enforcers of the day and it was said to be a show seeing the two of them going at it. He did get drafted and played a few games in the NHL it was at this time when they said in an announcement that he was first American born African American to play in the NHL. An injury to his shoulder cut his career short but he said he was grateful for the time he had, and being able to find the women he married. A good book about old time hockey and the way they used to play the game and him thanking the people that made it possible for him especially his father. A wonderful book. I got this book from netgalley. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
May 1, 2015
A very nice, unfortunately quick read about Val James, the first black player in the NHL. His story is both heartbreaking and inspiring and is told - mostly - by himself, in his own words, all his own experiences. The friends and teammates, coaches and acquaintances that make up the remainder of the stories within are perfectly included in spaces where the story is either better told by them or are simply stories a person wouldn't want to tell on themselves. After reading the book I'm now a big fan of James and consider him a lovely person whom I'd love to meet, even having never watched him play a single game of hockey. His persistence and perseverance during a racist time in a very white sport is enough to make any person both boil with anger for him and also be motivated enough to persevere under whatever circumstances you may be going through if the desire to succeed is strong enough in you like it was Mr. James.
May 23, 2015
Valmore James's was one of the quiet firsts that make the history books without making the news. He joined the NHL at a time when only five percent of the players were American, so as the first African American he didn't garner as much attention as Willie O'Ree, who officially broke the color barrier in the fifties. Still, if you like athletic memoirs this one is very much worth reading.
It is so refreshing to read about an athlete's response to racial slurs being immediate, total violence. There are dozens of stories in this book about someone making a racist remark and James knocking out teeth, cutting off eyebrows, and breaking bones. An enforcer's role is a violent one, and by all reports he got the job done. It's only unfortunate that he couldn't do the same to the asshole fans.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about sports.
It is so refreshing to read about an athlete's response to racial slurs being immediate, total violence. There are dozens of stories in this book about someone making a racist remark and James knocking out teeth, cutting off eyebrows, and breaking bones. An enforcer's role is a violent one, and by all reports he got the job done. It's only unfortunate that he couldn't do the same to the asshole fans.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about sports.
March 8, 2015
I grew up playing at the Long Island arena with Val's brother Hank. I remember his dad driving the Zamboni. Unfortunately I also remember the taunts Hank received when we played in Brooklyn. Val's story is one that needed to be told way before 2015. His story gives you a glimpse of what all the "first" to play black athletes must have all faced. His hard hitting, brutal style of play was the only way he could survive among such a racist culture. He deserved so much more from the sport that took everything he had to give to it.
January 6, 2016
The Val James story is an auto biography of Val James about his journey to the NHL. Valamore starts skating when he is 11 years old in Florida. And is possibly the worst skater there is but through hard work and dedication he becomes good enough to join a travel league. From there he use his dads advice and his great fighting skills to carry him to the minors and later to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But he doesn't get there without sacrifice or hardships. But I don't want to ruin the story, have fun reading.
April 23, 2015
SUPER fast read. Very interesting, especially for hockey fans. It was fun seeing names I recognized as they crossed paths w/Val on the ice. LOL at him scaring the pants off of a rookie Bob Probert.
Val lost a star in my rating, because the book ends with the end of his hockey career. I want to know more about his life post hockey; clearly he's done something in the almost 30 years since he hung up his skates. Maybe that will be in his next book?
Val lost a star in my rating, because the book ends with the end of his hockey career. I want to know more about his life post hockey; clearly he's done something in the almost 30 years since he hung up his skates. Maybe that will be in his next book?
March 15, 2015
Great biography of the first American-born black player who played in the NHL. Facing impossible odds he eventually made it in the big league for a few games, not he also had a great career in the AHL winning the Calder Cup. That's the other great value of this book that it gives you a pretty good idea about how minor leagues were functioning back then, and what it was like making a living playing in the EHL and AHL.
April 7, 2015
As the first Black American to play hockey in the NHL, by definition, his story is intrinsically pretty interesting. I am a big hockey fan and I liked all the information about his games, but I suspect it requires a foundation knowledge (or at least affinity for) 1970s era junior hockey to really get a lot of the finer points. Not related to him specifically, but WOW I forgot how different fighting used to be, and it seems shocking now. Whoa.
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