Stories of hockey's diverse heroes, from early trailblazers to rising new talent. Their own stories in their own words, featuring players from all levels of the professional game. Together, we will bring the cards to life to understand the personality and the drive that allowed them to break down barriers.
Hosted by Dean Barnes.
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Black hockey players have often gone overlooked, even at the elite level of the NHL. My Hockey Hero is a podcast that wants to correct that problem. Its goal is to bring attention to the Black hockey players who have contributed to the sport's history over several decades.
Dean Barnes is the host, creator, and producer of the My Hockey Hero podcast. Barnes is the son of Jamaican immigrants who settled in Ontario, Canada. The host became a passionate hockey fan from an early age. He played college hockey at the University of Waterloo. Before becoming a superintendent of education in Ontario, he worked as a high school teacher and principal.
The My Hockey Hero podcast began with an interesting idea that evolved over time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnes set out to complete a goal that he had long had. He wanted to complete his 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey card set. He would go on to complete the set, including a Wayne Gretzky rookie card.
However, the murder of George Floyd caused Barnes to do some soul-searching. He came to the realization that the media had not recognized Black hockey players. He set out to change this by beginning My Hockey Hero.
Each episode of My Hockey Hero features an interview with a former pro hockey player of color. Previous podcast guests include Darren Banks, Anthony Stewart, and Ray Neufeld.
Barnes proves himself to be a skilled interviewer during these episodes. He does an excellent job at letting these players tell their stories. Sometimes, the players get emotional. This may be because this is the first time anyone has asked them to do so.
My Hockey Hero is a beautiful celebration of a beloved game in a way that is long overdue. New episodes of the podcast premiere on Monday of each week.
Episodes