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Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925 1st edition by George Robert Fosty (2004) Hardcover
The Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes was formed in 1895 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Comprised of the sons and grandsons of runaway American slaves, the league helped pioneer the sport of ice hockey, changing this winter game from the primitive "gentleman's past-time" of the nineteenth century to the modern fast moving game of today. In an era when many believed blacks could not endure cold, possessed ankles too weak to effectively skate, and lacked the intelligence for organized sport, these men defied the established myths. The Colored League was one of the most complex sports organizations ever created and was led by Baptist ministers and church laymen. Natural leaders and proponents of black pride, these men represented a concept in sports never before seen. Their rule book was The Bible. Their game book, the coded words and oral history derived from the experiences of American slavery and the Underground Railroad. Their strategy, the principles and teachings of Americ
236 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 7, 2017
While the NHL is celebrating its 100th season this year, it was not the first organized hockey league – that honor goes to the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes. Organized in 1895 in Nova Scotia, this league is finally given its proper recognition in this outstanding work by George and Daril Fosty.
With help from the leadership of the Baptist Church, a transplant from Trinidad named Henry Sylvester Williams was the mastermind of the league as the first games were played in 1895 and with the popularity of ice hockey in Canada, the league became popular for both players and spectators. Not only was the sport itself a means for blacks to earn a little but it also was a business opportunity for blacks in a time and place when those opportunities were few and far between.
The quality of play was very good and through extensive research, the Fosty brothers reveal that two important staples of the game were invented in the Colored Hockey League, but because of either oversight or a lack of proper credit, it has not been well known. The act of a goalie dropping to the ice to cover the puck was started by goaltender Henry “Little Braces” Franklyn in 1898. There were also players who through their sheer power began shooting the puck with extra force, the forefather of today’s slap shot.
Reading about this, the teams and what they went through in order to play the game (which included games against teams of white players as well as other colored teams in the league) and the struggle of black Canadians for civil rights made for a riveting read that was read in one sitting by this reviewer.
Whether a reader is a hockey historian, interested in civil rights history, or just wants to read a compelling book about a chapter in sports history that seems to have been ignored until now, this well-written and richly detailed book will satisfy that desire.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
With help from the leadership of the Baptist Church, a transplant from Trinidad named Henry Sylvester Williams was the mastermind of the league as the first games were played in 1895 and with the popularity of ice hockey in Canada, the league became popular for both players and spectators. Not only was the sport itself a means for blacks to earn a little but it also was a business opportunity for blacks in a time and place when those opportunities were few and far between.
The quality of play was very good and through extensive research, the Fosty brothers reveal that two important staples of the game were invented in the Colored Hockey League, but because of either oversight or a lack of proper credit, it has not been well known. The act of a goalie dropping to the ice to cover the puck was started by goaltender Henry “Little Braces” Franklyn in 1898. There were also players who through their sheer power began shooting the puck with extra force, the forefather of today’s slap shot.
Reading about this, the teams and what they went through in order to play the game (which included games against teams of white players as well as other colored teams in the league) and the struggle of black Canadians for civil rights made for a riveting read that was read in one sitting by this reviewer.
Whether a reader is a hockey historian, interested in civil rights history, or just wants to read a compelling book about a chapter in sports history that seems to have been ignored until now, this well-written and richly detailed book will satisfy that desire.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
February 15, 2015
An important part of history finally revelled.
February 27, 2026
2.5 stars.
My rating for this book is based mostly on the fact that there is very little hockey content in it. This is mostly a history of the Black people living in Canada beginning in the 1600s, which is obviously an important context to have but was dry and poorly edited a lot of the time. And while that was definitely interesting and educational, it's not exactly what I signed up for when I picked this book. I would have liked some more expansion on the hockey teams and their personal histories other than newspaper articles giving play-by plays of the games. Though the lack of this inclusion may be due to the lack of documented history of the teams. I also would have liked more about the invention of the game as they began to touch on in the beginning with the Mi'kamq tribe being the originators but never really brought up again. Or even how the game was different back then compared to now. Overall, this was a great look at Black history in Canada but not as specific to hockey as advertised.
My rating for this book is based mostly on the fact that there is very little hockey content in it. This is mostly a history of the Black people living in Canada beginning in the 1600s, which is obviously an important context to have but was dry and poorly edited a lot of the time. And while that was definitely interesting and educational, it's not exactly what I signed up for when I picked this book. I would have liked some more expansion on the hockey teams and their personal histories other than newspaper articles giving play-by plays of the games. Though the lack of this inclusion may be due to the lack of documented history of the teams. I also would have liked more about the invention of the game as they began to touch on in the beginning with the Mi'kamq tribe being the originators but never really brought up again. Or even how the game was different back then compared to now. Overall, this was a great look at Black history in Canada but not as specific to hockey as advertised.
January 9, 2025
A captivating read even for someone who isn't following hockey closely. This book is so much more than hockey games!
May 27, 2023
Despite the title, this really isn't about hockey. It is more a history of the black population in Halifax, specifically the Africville community. That is an interesting story in itself, as shown here, but the tie with hockey is very limited, and doesn't get a lot of coverage here. That said, the sport was played there, and was quite popular in the region, and is worth reading about. However the book could have had some stronger editing, as it does get into tangents at times, and has some issues in terms of grammar and wording.
January 18, 2021
“Black Ice” by George and Darryl Fosty, published by Stryker-Indigo Publishing Company, Inc.
Category - Sports/Hockey
Although this book is listed as, The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925, it has more to do with the social environment of the colored race in Canada at this time.
The Colored Hockey League came into existence twenty-two years before the National Hockey League. It was mostly made up of American runaway slaves that settled in Nova Scotia looking for a better life. It started out as Club Hockey that was tied to individual Baptist Churches, which gave reason to the rule book as the Bible. Many of the teams too their names from their trek from slavery that contained two different meanings. The games, at first, were pond hockey games and later were played indoors whenever they could get ice time.
The crux of the book is the story of how they came to Nova Scotia to escape slavery and discrimination. However they soon realized their plight was the same or worse than before. Racism was as prominent here as it was in the United States. It was only through a long and arduous journey and through hockey that they were able to improve their situation.
A very informable read that very few of us are aware of and gives one another insight into the far reaches of racism.
Category - Sports/Hockey
Although this book is listed as, The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925, it has more to do with the social environment of the colored race in Canada at this time.
The Colored Hockey League came into existence twenty-two years before the National Hockey League. It was mostly made up of American runaway slaves that settled in Nova Scotia looking for a better life. It started out as Club Hockey that was tied to individual Baptist Churches, which gave reason to the rule book as the Bible. Many of the teams too their names from their trek from slavery that contained two different meanings. The games, at first, were pond hockey games and later were played indoors whenever they could get ice time.
The crux of the book is the story of how they came to Nova Scotia to escape slavery and discrimination. However they soon realized their plight was the same or worse than before. Racism was as prominent here as it was in the United States. It was only through a long and arduous journey and through hockey that they were able to improve their situation.
A very informable read that very few of us are aware of and gives one another insight into the far reaches of racism.
September 27, 2022
More Black History Than Hockey History
I’m a white 71 year old Californian, but a life-long hockey fan and recreational player. Willie O’Ree, playing for the old WHL Los Angeles Blades and then San Diego Gulls, was perhaps my first hockey hero. Subsequently, I’ve read about and admired Herb Carnegie, so this book appeared to be a natural outgrowth of my interest in hockey history.
But really, this book is more about Canadian racism. Early black hockey players in Nova Scotia are more subtext than the real subject of this book. And to think my Canadian nieces used to tell me racism only existed in the U.S.
This book is edgy, and makes a few claims of dubious validity - like modern hockey was more or less invented by Maritime black players. I think First Nations players would dispute that.
Regardless, this book offers an important point of view - one that must be taken seriously, along with countless other perspectives, if we’re ever to actually treat all people equally and well.
I’m a white 71 year old Californian, but a life-long hockey fan and recreational player. Willie O’Ree, playing for the old WHL Los Angeles Blades and then San Diego Gulls, was perhaps my first hockey hero. Subsequently, I’ve read about and admired Herb Carnegie, so this book appeared to be a natural outgrowth of my interest in hockey history.
But really, this book is more about Canadian racism. Early black hockey players in Nova Scotia are more subtext than the real subject of this book. And to think my Canadian nieces used to tell me racism only existed in the U.S.
This book is edgy, and makes a few claims of dubious validity - like modern hockey was more or less invented by Maritime black players. I think First Nations players would dispute that.
Regardless, this book offers an important point of view - one that must be taken seriously, along with countless other perspectives, if we’re ever to actually treat all people equally and well.
February 10, 2024
Really great story and important history of the Black community in New Brunswick/Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Isle. My one critique is that there could be more hockey contained in the book. However, this is exactly one of the main takeaways from the book. There SHOULD be more hockey in this book, but few cared enough to preserve these stories due to the fact that the players weren’t white. The players themselves had larger issues at hand to deal with. Hockey was important, but not more important than attaining racial equality. The authors do a good job of covering this history in an engaging way without being verbose.
June 7, 2021
So, if you're studying this subject, this is the only book I know that covers it. And while there's lots of great details, there's a lot of weird stuff. Like, the background of the communities? Excellent! The long explanation of the Canadian involvement in WWI that didn't mention anything about the players or the league for like 10 pages? Not what I came for.
There's lots of other bizarre stuff in here, including an unnecessary pot shot at WEB Dubois. Yeah. I would definitely enjoy another take on this, but, too be fair I learned a lot.
There's lots of other bizarre stuff in here, including an unnecessary pot shot at WEB Dubois. Yeah. I would definitely enjoy another take on this, but, too be fair I learned a lot.
August 4, 2020
This is such a great book on black hockey in Canada. But Black Ice so much more than that. It it's black history in the Nova Scotia area, how Henry S Williams and others created the black hockey league for moral uplift in the black communities. The first and only sports league for moral uplift and to show to their white Canadians that they are worthy to be treated as equals. Amazon customers rate it at 4.5 stars, they're right this is a great sports/history book!
December 31, 2022
I loved this book. I didn't know about this part in our history in relation to hockey but also more importantly in relation to the history of the black experience in our country. I think more people should read this. I will be watching the documentary based on this book.
September 24, 2018
Well researched, poorly written and edited. Probably better as a term paper than a book, in terms of content stretching.
December 6, 2020
Extremely thorough research. Followed a narrative for the majority of the book, and then tied up the loose ends afterwards!
July 16, 2021
Hidden Gem of history
This was an excellent read of the Black Canadians, who played hockey before and lived in Africanville. Excellent read about Black Canadians
This was an excellent read of the Black Canadians, who played hockey before and lived in Africanville. Excellent read about Black Canadians
February 8, 2026
Black hockey history is hockey history. Can you imagine hockey without the slap-shot? Black hockey players created that. This is a very important read.
June 2, 2017
What an interesting book and nothing, well sort of, of what I was expecting. I was expecting the usual hockey history/story book of young men (apparently girls weren't invented before Title 9) who got together to play the glorious game of hockey in Canada.
However, what I got was a version of Black History, Canadian style. How they wound up in Canada, especially the Maroons from Jamacia, thrown out by the British because white Brits wanted the good land.
This book starts with the "immigration" of blacks to Nova Scotia with this back story leading up to the start of the league. It was started by the Baptist Church as a way to get young black men into church. Of course they could only play other black teams, and any indoor ice time was after the Senior or white teams were done. According to the difficult research by the authors there are a couple of things the black teams started/created/invented that the credit has been given to white players. With little or no press the teams played on. They got into fights on the ice. Spats off the ice. Trash talking one team in the papers that would sound familiar in todays world of Championship Wrestling.
With the Bible as their rule book, they brought the level of play up, but only their black fans knew. There was 1 game between black and white, but only because the other black team wasn't able to show up.
The black towns they founded and then taken by their white government to the great game of hockey. This is well worth your time. Even if you're not a sports/hockey fan, the history is fascinating.
I also found it a bit sad that Canada/Britain didn't treat their black citizens any better than the U.S. did nor have they done. The world points at us and others guilty of the same crime hide behind our back.
Do borrow a rule from the Colored Hockey League rule book, the Bible - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
However, what I got was a version of Black History, Canadian style. How they wound up in Canada, especially the Maroons from Jamacia, thrown out by the British because white Brits wanted the good land.
This book starts with the "immigration" of blacks to Nova Scotia with this back story leading up to the start of the league. It was started by the Baptist Church as a way to get young black men into church. Of course they could only play other black teams, and any indoor ice time was after the Senior or white teams were done. According to the difficult research by the authors there are a couple of things the black teams started/created/invented that the credit has been given to white players. With little or no press the teams played on. They got into fights on the ice. Spats off the ice. Trash talking one team in the papers that would sound familiar in todays world of Championship Wrestling.
With the Bible as their rule book, they brought the level of play up, but only their black fans knew. There was 1 game between black and white, but only because the other black team wasn't able to show up.
The black towns they founded and then taken by their white government to the great game of hockey. This is well worth your time. Even if you're not a sports/hockey fan, the history is fascinating.
I also found it a bit sad that Canada/Britain didn't treat their black citizens any better than the U.S. did nor have they done. The world points at us and others guilty of the same crime hide behind our back.
Do borrow a rule from the Colored Hockey League rule book, the Bible - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
December 1, 2019
The premise for this book is a good one - the story of Blacks playing ice hockey in Nova Scotia at the turn of the century. That is, from the 1800's to the 1900's. There exists a lot for which I didn't know... that the strategy for a goalie to fall down on the ice to stop a puck was created in the Colored Hockey League, and that the battles between unincorporated Halifax and City Hall are extremely reminiscent of similar battles in the USA.
Where the book fails though, is in its actual storytelling. Someday another will write about this, and remember to hire an editor. Really, something that gets into hardcover needs to have its apostrophes allocated in the proper way, and not have partial sentences dangling throughout the text. And a book that is under 200 pages should ramble a bit less.
Where the book fails though, is in its actual storytelling. Someday another will write about this, and remember to hire an editor. Really, something that gets into hardcover needs to have its apostrophes allocated in the proper way, and not have partial sentences dangling throughout the text. And a book that is under 200 pages should ramble a bit less.
June 5, 2018
I wanted to love this book. It's well researched. I forgive delving into parts of history necessary to give context to Black Canadians Ice Hockey. However, I didn't special order a book to tell me about the life of a Canadian Boxer. It was great how they transcribed newspaper articles detailing hockey games. But I would have preferred the cliff notes version with the full text available as an end or foot note. Excellent Black Canadian History, it's not really a hockey story.
September 13, 2024
Truly a great, informative book. The majority of the sport we know today was developed by young black men, and, as usual, white men took credit for their accomplishments. Not only does it go into the history of the sport, but also the history of slavery, of racial prejudice, and histories of the area to truly paint an informative picture. I love history and I can say this may have been one of the best written history books I’ve read.
June 20, 2012
The only reason I didn't give it five stars was the author(s) occasional speculation on topics his research couldn't support. Otherwise it was phenomenal serving as both history lesson (global, U.S., Canadian, WWI) and sociological study all intertwined with a love of hockey.
October 30, 2016
This is a must read for all hockey fans. This story delves into great sociological aspects and great history leading up to the creation of the league. It starts very dry but extremely informative. Highly recommended!
June 13, 2014
An interesting story I really wanted to delve into but the writing made this a laborious read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews