Color of Hockey: Black, biracial players making mark on women's game

William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog since 2012. Douglas joined NHL.com in 2019 and writes about people of color in the sport. Today, he profiles the growing number of Black and biracial players in NCAA women's hockey and the success they are achieving.

Wisconsin defenseman Chayla Edwards said she enjoyed her recently completed hockey season, and not just because her team won the NCAA Women's Frozen Four championship.

She was thrilled to see the number of Black and biracial women in U.S. college hockey increase in 2022-23 and to watch some of them have impactful roles on their teams.

"It's cool to just see in all these different places these Black girls excelling," Edwards said. "It doesn't matter, Division I, Division II, club, whatever. More Black women in the hockey community has always excited me, given me hope and warms my heart, too."

At least 27 Black and biracial players were on NCAA Division I and Division III women's rosters this season. That's down from 32 among the 2,161 women's players listed in the NCAA's 2021-22 demographic database, but up from nine of 1,978 players listed by the college athletic governing body in 2021.

Players this season included Edwards, younger sister and Wisconsin forward Laila Edwards, Ohio State defenseman Sophie Jaques, Brown forward Jade Iginla, Minnesota defenseman Crystalyn Hengler, Yale forward Kiersten Goode, Arcadia forward Ariel Williamson, Clarkson goalie Alexa Madrid, Holy Cross forward Alexis Perry, Finlandia forward Libby Plath, Lake Forest defenseman Willow Poppleton, Neumann defenseman Jamiyah Alexander, Penn State forward Katelyn Roberts, Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute forwards Nyah Philip and Asiah Taylor-Walters, Rivier forward Angeline Rasby, St. Anselm forward Sydney Merritt, State University of New York Oswego forward Kensie Malone, SUNY Plattsburgh defenseman Sierra Benjamin, Syracuse forward Rayla Clemons, Trine forward Lea Connor, New Hampshire forward Tamara Thierus, Wesleyan forward Aiko Sims, Wisconsin River Falls forward Kailey Niccum, Anna Maria defenseman Olympia Myers, Lindenwood University defenseman Teagan Heaslip and Lawrence goalie Chasity Anderson.

Former Western Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner Jennifer Flowers said the numbers reflect the growth and level of support of girls and women's hockey.

For example, the hockey journeys of Lake Forest's Poppleton and St. Anselm's Merritt were aided by scholarships awarded by the Black Girl Hockey Club to help increase the number of Black girls and women in the sport by helping to offset the cost of playing. Neumann's Alexander is an alumnae of Philadelphia's Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, an affiliate of the NHL's Hockey is for Everyone initiative.

"It's (hockey) becoming more mainstream, more popular and visible and, just like anything, when young people can see someone that looks like them -- white, Black, Latino, whatever -- it's going to build in the next generations," said Flowers, athletic director at Southwest Minnesota State.

"Somewhere along the way, this group of young women got started in hockey and now they're becoming the face, and good for them because they're going to leave the sport better than they found it because next year there will be more. It's all just a positive trend."

But it's not just about the numbers.

Jaques became the first Black player to receive the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented annually to the best player in NCAA Division I women's hockey.

The 22-year-old Toronto native had 48 points (24 goals, 24 assists) in 41 games, led NCAA defensemen in goals, was NCAA co-leader in power play goals (nine), became the fifth true defenseman in NCAA history to have back-to-back seasons with at least 40 points and set a WCHA record for most goals at the position (61).

The Edwards sisters helped lead Wisconsin to its second Frozen Four title in three years with a 1-0 win against Jaques' Buckeyes, who were the defending national champions, on March 19.

Laila Edwards was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team following a freshman campaign in which she scored 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 41 games.

The 19-year-old from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was an alternate captain for the United States at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship in June and was named the tournament's most valuable player after she had eight points (four goals, four assists) in five games.

Iginla, the daughter of Hockey Hall of Fame forward Jarome Iginla, had three points (one goal, two assists) in three games for Canada at the tournament, including an assist on the second goal in a 3-2 win against the U.S. in the title game.

Her performance was a preview for her freshman season at Brown University.

Iginla was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Co-Rookie of the Year after she led Brown with 23 points (17 goals, six assists) in 29 games, tied for 11th in the ECAC in goals, and was tied for fourth in the nation in short-handed goals (three).

"I'm inspired by people like Jade Iginla and Sophie Jaques," Laila Edwards said. "Jade Iginla beat us in the final to get the gold medal so as much as I don't want to love her, I have to. Sophie Jaques winning the 'Patty Kaz,' that makes me think maybe I can win it someday."

In Division III, SUNY Plattsburgh's Benjamin led the Northeast Women's Hockey League in assists (24) and points by defensemen (29) in 26 games. She was named a 2022-23 first team CCM Hockey/American Hockey Coaches Association All-American.

Lake Forest's Poppleton was named to the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association All-Freshman Team. The 19-year-old had 12 assists in 28 games.

SUNY Oswego's Malone said such awards and accolades can help motivate young girls of color as they progress in hockey.

Malone has experience in that area as a volunteer coach in her home state with Minnesota Unbounded, a program founded in 2021 for girls of color.

"It creates great role models for them and creates girls that they can look up to see what it's like," she said. "Unbounded is a great program but when they do go back to their everyday teams, they're going to go back to being one of the very few players of color on the team. I think it's very helpful for them to see players in college, it's a great inspiration."

Photos: Robert Edwards, David Silverman, Justin Wolford, WCHA, State University of New York Plattsburgh Athletics