VANCOUVER – When discussing pioneers in hockey for minorities and black athletes in particular, the first name that comes to mind more often than not is that of Willie O'Ree.
O'Ree famously broke the National Hockey League's colour barrier in 1958 when he made his debut with the Boston Bruins. Going on to a 20-year professional career, the Fredericton, New Brunswick native rightfully has a massive place in North American sports history.
John Utendale was a fellow black hockey player who is not nearly as heralded as O'Ree, but who himself deserves much attention for his chapter in the history books as the first black player to sign an NHL contract when he put pen to paper with the Detroit Red Wings in 1955.
Utendale in game action with the Windsor Bulldogs of the OHA Senior A League in 1958-59
While Utendale never quite made it to the NHL, he attended several Red Wings camps and spent time with his hometown Edmonton Flyers, Detroit's farm team.
Utendale and O'Ree became teammates in the 1958-59 season while playing with the QHL's Quebec Aces where along with Stan Maxwell, the trio formed the so-called "Black Line".
Following a couple more stops in Senior "A", Utendale headed back west and enrolled at UBC in 1960 where he earned his teaching certificate while playing for the Thunderbirds.
"When a couple of older alumni led us down this path and mentioned John's story, it sure got our attention, especially during Black History Month," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon. "All these stories you hear of these athletes who persevered through such challenging times and to know that our program was a part of his important hockey journey is just fascinating. I'm really proud that our department can get this story out and let people know about him."
Utendale spent just the one season with the Thunderbirds but was a star for the UBC squad, leading the team in scoring and routinely dazzling fans with his elite level skill.
On one weekend alone, Utendale had a pair of hat tricks along with a six-point game
as he led the 'Birds to a two-game exhibition series sweep over the visiting Montana State University.
Following his sizzling single season with the T-Birds, Utendale went on to attain his Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Alberta and later became the first Director of Physical Education at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) while also coaching the school's hockey team in 1967-68.
Utendale continued to play during this time, closing out his career following the 1968-69 season where he dressed for the Edmonton Monarchs of the Alberta Senior Hockey League.
While his playing days may have been ending, his greater impact in the field of advanced education was only just beginning.
After earning his Master's Degree in Education at Eastern Washington State College (now Eastern Washington University), he was hired by Washington State University. At WSU, Utendale served as academic coordinator for the school's athletic department, was a member of the Washington State Human Rights Commission, taught a course in black studies, and coached little league baseball. Somehow, he managed to accomplish all this while earning his Doctorate in Education.
The newly minted Dr. Utendale was soon hired at Western Washington State College (now Western Washington University), where he became the first black faculty member of the Woodring College of Education.
During his lengthy career at Western Washington, Utendale was head of the Student Personnel Administration graduate program, responsible for a massive increase in the enrolment of minority students.
Eventually becoming a fully tenured professor, Utendale also led the state's Higher Education Administration.
Utendale still always found time to give back to hockey, serving as coach of the Western Washington Vikings and was the Western Regional Director of the United States Amateur Hockey Association. He was a co-founder of the Bellingham Area Minor Hockey Association and coached the city's junior team.
Utendale also made history alongside the USA's famous "Miracle on Ice" gold medal winning team at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics where he was an assistant training coach, the first black member of the national team's coaching staff.
Retiring from Western Washington University in 2001, Dr. John Utendale died in Bellingham, Washington in 2006.
Locally celebrated at times, the all-too-often hidden status of John Utendale's life and legacy is a testament to the importance of Black History Month and why his story needs to be shared.
"It's just fascinating to me there was a black player at UBC who went on to sign a professional contract before Willie O'Ree," said Butenschon. "The fact we didn't know more about it and that it's not more widely known is unfortunate. I think it's a great opportunity and almost our responsibility now to share his story."
