The New York Rangers invite Herb Carnegie to their
training camp to play for their minor leauge team, but he refuses
and opts to play semi-pro.
1949
George Armstrong joins the Toronto Maple Leafs and
becomes the first Native Canadian (First Nation) to play in the
NHL.
1950
Art Dorrington becomes the first black player to sign an
NHL contract when he joins the New York Rangers. However, Dorrington
never makes it to the NHL.
1958
Willie O'Ree breaks the NHL color barrier when he makes
his debut with the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18.
1984
Grant Fuhr becomes the first black player to win the
Stanley Cup when the Edmonton Oilers defeat the New York
Islanders.
1988
Grant Fuhr becomes the first black player to win the
Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender. ... The Chicago
Blackhawks name Dirk Graham captain, making him the first
black player to wear the 'C.' ... Tony McKegney becomes the
first black player to scpre 40 goals in a season.
1990
South Korean native Jim Paek becomes the first Asian to
play in the NHL when he suits up for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
1991
Bill Guerin joins the New Jersey Devils, making him the
first Hispanic to play in the NHL. ... Tony McKegney becomes
the first minority to play on the Canadian National Team.
1994
John Paris leads the IHL's Atlanta Knights to a
championship as the first black head coach in professional
hockey.
1995
Anaheim's Paul Kariya becomes the first Asian player to
score 50 goals in a season.
1997
Ted Nolan, of the First Nations Ojibway tribe, wins the
Jack Adams Award as the league's Coach of the Year.
1998
Dirk Graham becomes the first black NHL head coach when
he is hired to become the Chicago Blackhawks bench boss.
2000
New Jersey's Scott Gomez, of Mexican and Colombian
descent, wins the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top
rookie.
2002
Calgary's Jarome Iginla becomes the first player of
African descent to win the Art Ross Trophy, Maurice "Rocket" Richard
Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award.
2003
Jordin Tootoo joins the Nashville Predators and becomes
the first native Inuit to play in the NHL. ... Grant Fuhr
becomes the first black player inducted into the Hockey Hall of
Fame. ... Gerald Coleman becomes the first NHL Diversity
program graduate to be selected in the NHL Draft when Tampa Bay
selects him with the 224th overall pick.
2006
San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo, the first member of the
Moose Cree First Nation to play in the NHL, wins the Maurice
"Rocket" Richard trophy.
CBSSports.com Shop
New Jersey Devils 2012 NHL Eastern Conference Champions Get Your Locker Room Gear Shop Now
