Die By The Blade · Feb 12, 2021
Celebrating Black History Month: Val James
Photo by Cole Burston/NHLI via Getty ImagesAs the month of February celebrates Black History Month, we’ll be looking back at some Black hockey players who have suited up for the Buffalo Sabres over the course of the franchise’s history. Among them are greats like Valmore James, Mike Grier, Grant Fuhr and Rumun Ndur.
Valmore James - more commonly known as Val James - became the first Black American to play in the NHL when he suited up for the Buffalo Sabres in the 1981-82 season. (Willie O’Ree broke the NHL’s color barrier for Black players in 1958, but he is Canadian.) As a fun fact, he was also the first NHL player who was born in Florida.