Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Art Dorrington: Breaking Hockey's Color Barrier November 15, 1950


 Today's #CRT History Snapshot: #OTD in 1950 Art Dorrington became the first Black player in organized hockey in North America when he signed with the New York Rangers and began play for their minor league club the Atlantic City Sea Gulls. He was drafted into the army in 1956 where a broken leg ended his career, before he made it to the National Hockey League. In his brief career Dorrington played for the Atlantic City Sea Gulls, Johnstown Jets, Washington Lions and Philadelphia Ramblers after moving around the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EAHL) and International Hockey League (IHL).

Up on retirement Dorrington joined the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department and became a major influence in the community. In 1998, he and his wife founded a nonprofit program, Art Dorrington Ice Hockey Foundation, that provides low-income children the opportunity to learn life skills through hockey. For every hour the youths were on the ice, they spent an hour in the classroom. Dorrington’s mantra was “On the Ice – Off the Streets.” The Dorringtons’ foundation received the support of the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone.”

In 2012, Boardwalk Hall’s ice hockey rink was named after Dorrington, and three years later, Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian proclaimed March 15 as Art Dorrington Day. Mr. Dorrington died at age 87 on December 29, 2017

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