Kane U.S. Record Will Stand for Years (DHN+)
The Daily: Larkin No. 3 Center at USA First Practice; Listing Penguins Trade Needs
Will Red Wings, Griffins Extend Their Olympic Medal Runs?
Remembering an Historic Red Wings Moment
The Daily: Cossa Delivers Another Big Win; Laine Trade Talk
Kane U.S. Record Will Stand for Years (DHN+)
Three Reasons Why Red Wings Keep Winning (DHN+)
Griffins Set Record With Lineup They Didn’t See Coming (+)
What We Learned On Red Wings’ Six-Game Road Trip (+)
Why Griffins Are Playing Like a Team for the Ages (+)
Detroit was first NHL team to sign black player
Published
on
By
As part of Black History Month, Detroit’s Fox 2 News is celebrating a little-known yet monumental moment in Red Wings and NHL history.
In 1955, the Red Wings signed forward John Utendale. He was a top junior prospect out of Edmonton.
Utendale was also the first black player to sign a contract with an NHL team.
“I don’t think he set out to be a trailblazer, but I guess that’s just what a trailblazer is,” Rob Utendale, Utendale’s son, told Fox 2 News. “Something that just happens.”
Utendale was a star player in the junior ranks. With the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, he was named to the WCJHL All-Star Team in 1954-55.
On Dec. 18, 1956, Utendale was called up to make his pro debut. He suited up for the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Flyers, a Red Wings farm club.
“I’m convinced he’s one of the finest skaters I’ve ever seen,” Flyers coach Bud Poile told the Edmonton Journal on the eve of Utendale’s pro bow. Among Utendale’s teammates in Edmonton were future Hall of Famers John Bucyk and Al Arbour.
Detroit Hockey Now first told of Utendale’s unique mark in hockey history four years ago. DHN writer Bob Duff was among those interviewed for the Fox 2 News story.
Though he remained active in top-level hockey until 1969, Utendale never made it to the NHL. Willie O’Ree broke the NHL’s color barrier with the Boston Bruins in 1958. Utendale and O’Ree were teammates with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Hockey League.
While playing senior hockey, Utendale earned his teaching certificate from the University of British Columbia in 1961. He then enrolled at the University of Alberta, earning his Bachelor of Education degree.
Edmonton-born John Utendale, was the first Black hockey player to sign an NHL contract. After hanging up his skates, hockey remained his lifelong passion.
READ IT AGAIN: https://t.co/WcZkYWEbJV#BlackHistoryMonth | #AlbertaBuilt pic.twitter.com/xJ9AWzdaMt
— Hockey Alberta (@HockeyAlberta) February 15, 2023
Later, Utendale moved to the USA, earning his Master’s degree at Eastern Washington State College. He was hired as a professor by Washington State University. At WSU, he served as academic coordinator for the athletic department and as a member of the Washington State Human Rights Commission, all while earning his Doctorate in Education.
Staying involved in hockey, Utendale served as an assistant training coach with the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics.
Utendale died in 2006 at the age of 69.
“He’s unfortunately not here to see himself get his due,” Duff said. “But he’s someone who’s obviously a pioneer in hockey. Just because you don’t make the highest grade doesn’t mean you don’t leave a mark for others to follow.”
The Daily: Larkin No. 3 Center at USA First Practice; Listing Penguins Trade Needs
Will Red Wings, Griffins Extend Their Olympic Medal Runs?
The Daily: Cossa Delivers Another Big Win; Laine Trade Talk
It would have been interesting to see the other players pictured with Utendale identified.
Excellent.
Enter your email address to sign-up and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Copyright © 2023 National Hockey Now and Detroit Hockey Now. In no way affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings or the National Hockey League.
Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.
Continue reading
Hockey News