"They visited Halifax, the Dartmouth area, and met and spoke with descendants of several CHLM players in the hockey league," Dawson said. "They reviewed the research and archives to pull together the information."
In 2006, Dawson reached out to congratulate the brothers on what he called a groundbreaking book. The three became quick friends and even founded and coordinated the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame Conference and Induction that same year, following up with more ceremonies in 2007 and 2008.
"The intent of the conference was to create a greater awareness within the Black community, but also in the broader hockey community, of the historical significance of the Colored Hockey League," said Dawson.
The CHLM was founded by Pastor James Borden, James A.R. Kinney, James Robinson Johnston and Henry Sylvester Williams. Each founder was known as an intellectual. Kinney was recognized at the first Black graduate from the Maritime Business College and Johnston was the first Black graduate from the Dalhousie University law school and known as the first Black Nova Scotian to graduate from college.
The Dartmouth Jubilees were the first CHLM team. Opponents emerged from already established baseball teams, such as the Africville Seasides and the Truro Victorias with players looking for a sport to play when weather wasn't, well, baseball weather. For members of Black communities like Africville, hockey wasn't just a chance for winter competition. It was a social event.
"The games were more than a hockey game," said Dawson, "it was like a celebration. To the point where these teams were outdrawing the white senior league teams. White teams were drawing between 300 to 500 people. The teams within the Colored Hockey League were drawing between 1,200 to 1,500 fans."
At a time when racism instructed so much of how Black people lived their lives, an all-Black hockey league served as a safe space. Focusing on faith and community, the organizers of the Colored Hockey League hoped the game could serve as an equalizer.
"They saw this as an opportunity to move up socially and climb up a social ladder and gain equal footing with the larger white community," said Darril Fosty in a 2008 short-form ESPN documentary.
Watch: ESPN segment on "Black Ice"
"The ultimate goal being that one day, Blacks will be equal and sport will be the catalyst for that to occur."
Over its first 15 years, the CHLM had difficulty keeping afloat. The league folded in 1911 and was temporarily revived in 1925 before closing down during the 1930s.
The CHLM was particular doomed by a proposed expanded rail service to Halifax in 1906. Black community members, including league organizer Johnston attempted to stop the annexation of the land. Court battles led to political battles which led to businesses taking sides in favor of the government.
"[The CHLM] angered these railroad barons," George Fosty said in the 2016 documentary, "Soul on Ice: Past, Present and Future." "What you started to see is efforts to deny blacks a livelihood."