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278:, singled out James as one of the hardest punching players, and toughest opponents, he had ever fought. After 14 professional NHL hockey games, a shoulder injury forced James to retire from the sport in 1988. After retirement, he taught hockey for 10 years.
222:, playing seven games. James became the first Black American to play in the NHL when he debuted with the Sabres. He was not the first Black American to be exclusively trained in the country; that milestone did not occur until
260:, playing four games. As an African-American, James often faced situations at all levels of his career where he was the victim of incidents of racial prejudice from opposing fans, and, sometimes, opposing players.
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between 1981 and 1986. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1978 to 1988, was spent in various minor leagues. He was the first
African-American to play in the National Hockey League (
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302:. In January 2017 ECW Press re-released the book in paperback format, again coinciding with Black History Month.
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On the ice, James became revered for his fighting ability. Spirited bouts and victories over noted
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Frank, Mark (December 1, 1981). "Popular Val James Works to
Fulfill a Dream". UPI.
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made his NHL debut. James was the first native-born
Floridian to play in the NHL.
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174:. He was one of six children. James began skating and playing ice hockey in
1480:"Val James shares his stories on hockey and racism in new book 'Black Ice'"
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210:(EHL). James's propensity for using hip checks garnered notoriety in the
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on July 22, 1981. James made his NHL debut for the Sabres during the
1319:
Moriarity, Tim (March 26, 1982). "Sabres Taking a Look at a LI'er".
329:
274:
were part of his record. One of the NHL's all-time top enforcers,
51:
1292:"The Buffalo News Book Club for April: Black Ice by Val James"
298:
for worldwide distribution in
February 2015, coinciding with
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where his father was employed as the manager of an ice rink.
138:(born February 14, 1957) is an American former professional
314:
1548:"N.H.L. Trailblazer Finds Forgiveness in the Tip of a Pen"
1350:"O'Ree, James' Contributions Worth Remembering on MLK Day"
1430:"Willie O'Ree still blazing way in NHL 50 years later"
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Biographical information and career statistics from
1633:
1550:. The New York Times Company. The New York Times
158:was the first black, but is African-Canadian).
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70:205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
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1457:"NHL Players Born in Florida, United States"
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237:(AHL), under the direction of rookie coach
1657:21st-century African-American sportspeople
1652:20th-century African-American sportspeople
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1505:. New York City: ECW Press. p. 203.
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214:, home of the Blades. He signed with the
1702:Ice hockey players from New York (state)
241:, James scored the winning goal for the
190:in the 16th round, 184th overall in the
1459:. Hockey-Reference.com. January 1, 1970
1667:American men's ice hockey left wingers
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16:American ice hockey player (born 1957)
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286:After retiring, James settled in the
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1662:African-American ice hockey players
1482:. No. Online. Newsday. Newsday
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13:
252:James' next NHL stint came in the
142:player who played 11 games in the
14:
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1428:Allen, Kevin (January 14, 2008).
290:with his wife. His autobiography
196:Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
194:after playing two seasons in the
181:
62:6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
1732:Sportspeople from Ocala, Florida
1585:"Black Ice: The Val James Story"
1348:Neveau, Jim (January 16, 2012).
1697:Ice hockey players from Florida
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1546:Borzi, Pat (February 3, 2015).
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1478:Best, Neil (February 4, 2014).
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1571:Black Ice: The Val James Story
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1503:Black Ice: The Val James Story
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292:Black Ice: The Val James Story
233:In 1983, while playing in the
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1727:St. Catharines Saints players
1682:Detroit Red Wings draft picks
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1627:The Internet Hockey Database
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1737:Toronto Maple Leafs players
1722:Rochester Americans players
1672:Baltimore Skipjacks players
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1354:www.thehockeywriters.com
1717:Quebec Remparts players
1712:People from Long Island
1501:James, Valmore (2015).
212:Erie County Field House
1677:Buffalo Sabres players
235:American Hockey League
144:National Hockey League
1692:Flint Spirits players
968:St. Catharines Saints
208:Eastern Hockey League
1623:Hockey-Reference.com
924:Rochester Americans
881:Rochester Americans
838:Rochester Americans
795:Rochester Americans
192:1977 NHL Entry Draft
136:Valmore Curtis James
1687:Erie Blades players
1408:Hockey Hall of Fame
1379:Hockey Database.com
1150:Baltimore Skipjacks
1013:Toronto Maple Leafs
702:Rochester Americans
300:Black History Month
258:Toronto Maple Leafs
243:Rochester Americans
172:Hauppauge, New York
152:Toronto Maple Leafs
103:Toronto Maple Leafs
1619:Eliteprospects.com
1569:James; Gallagher.
1526:James; Gallagher.
254:1986–87 NHL season
220:1981–82 NHL season
166:James was born in
1589:ECW Press Website
1512:978-1-77041-201-9
1404:Legends of Hockey
1400:"Val Edwin James"
1273:player in the NHL
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391:Midland Athletics
306:Career statistics
188:Detroit Red Wings
176:Commack, New York
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120:Detroit Red Wings
42:February 14, 1957
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216:Buffalo Sabres
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1595:December 26,
1593:. Retrieved
1588:
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1552:. Retrieved
1527:
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1484:. Retrieved
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1461:. Retrieved
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1439:. Retrieved
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1411:. Retrieved
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1384:December 26,
1382:. Retrieved
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1357:. Retrieved
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1302:. Retrieved
1295:
1286:
1267:Willie O'Ree
658:Erie Blades
615:Erie Blades
291:
285:
262:
251:
232:
185:
165:
156:Willie O'Ree
135:
134:
18:
1642:1957 births
1591:. ECW Press
1554:February 4,
1486:February 4,
1375:"Val James"
1304:February 7,
1224:NHL totals
1189:AHL totals
571:Erie Blades
272:John Kordic
239:Mike Keenan
204:Erie Blades
1636:Categories
1625:, or
1621:, or
1617:, or
1278:References
276:Dave Brown
247:Calder Cup
228:Mike Grier
162:Early life
140:ice hockey
95:Played for
38:1957-02-14
1463:April 30,
1435:USA Today
1413:March 26,
296:ECW Press
265:enforcers
256:with the
206:, in the
110:NHL draft
79:Left wing
27:Val James
1441:June 23,
1269:, first
1261:See also
655:1980–81
612:1979–80
567:1978–79
387:1973–74
330:Playoffs
75:Position
1615:NHL.com
1321:Newsday
1145:1987–88
1098:1987–88
1053:1986–87
1008:1986–87
963:1985–86
920:1984–85
877:1983–84
834:1982–83
791:1981–82
744:1981–82
697:1980–81
525:1976–77
480:1975–76
433:1975–76
344:League
245:in the
226:, when
52:Florida
1509:
532:QMJHL
337:Season
67:Weight
59:Height
54:, U.S.
488:M-Cup
443:QMJHL
396:MOJHL
341:Team
48:Ocala
1597:2017
1556:2015
1507:ISBN
1488:2015
1465:2020
1443:2014
1415:2011
1386:2014
1361:2014
1306:2022
1219:121
1204:740
1154:AHL
1062:AHL
1017:NHL
987:162
972:AHL
927:AHL
899:122
884:AHL
841:AHL
813:204
798:AHL
676:179
661:EHL
635:117
592:112
576:NEHL
382:PIM
270:and
224:1996
150:and
116:1977
90:Left
86:Shot
32:Born
1239:30
1192:416
1124:26
1108:IHL
1077:71
1032:14
1002:53
957:15
942:70
914:10
871:27
856:88
828:16
770:16
754:NHL
723:12
707:AHL
691:30
650:34
619:EHL
562:48
547:89
474:42
459:78
379:Pts
366:PIM
361:Pts
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1406:.
1402:.
1377:.
1352:.
1340:^
1294:.
1254:0
1227:11
1207:56
1201:34
1198:20
1195:14
1184:—
1169:1
1139:—
1092:—
1065:74
1047:—
990:13
975:80
930:55
902:18
887:62
859:16
844:68
801:65
785:0
738:—
673:21
670:18
664:70
632:25
629:13
626:12
623:69
607:—
589:40
586:26
583:14
580:67
550:10
544:32
541:16
538:16
535:68
519:@
504:—
462:15
456:33
453:19
450:14
447:72
427:—
412:—
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347:GP
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1251:0
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1236:0
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1216:6
1213:4
1210:2
1181:—
1178:—
1175:—
1172:—
1166:0
1163:0
1160:0
1157:9
1136:—
1133:—
1130:—
1127:—
1121:2
1118:0
1115:2
1112:8
1089:—
1086:—
1083:—
1080:—
1074:7
1071:3
1068:4
1044:—
1041:—
1038:—
1035:—
1029:0
1026:0
1023:0
1020:4
999:2
996:1
993:1
984:3
981:3
978:0
954:0
951:0
948:0
945:3
939:5
936:4
933:1
911:1
908:1
905:0
896:3
893:2
890:1
868:1
865:0
862:1
853:7
850:4
847:3
825:2
822:2
819:0
816:6
810:9
807:4
804:5
782:0
779:0
776:0
773:3
767:0
764:0
761:0
758:7
735:—
732:—
729:—
726:—
720:0
717:0
714:0
711:3
688:4
685:3
682:1
679:6
667:3
647:1
644:1
641:0
638:9
604:—
601:—
598:—
595:—
559:2
556:1
553:1
516:1
513:0
510:1
507:3
501:—
498:—
495:—
492:—
471:6
468:6
465:0
424:—
421:—
418:—
415:—
409:—
406:—
403:—
400:—
376:A
373:G
356:A
351:G
36:(
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