This African Heritage Month, we are proud to celebrate the courage, excellence, and lasting influence of Art Dorrington, Stan "Chook" Maxwell, John Paris Jr., and Bill Riley. These four Nova Scotia hockey trailblazers helped reshape what was possible for future generations of young hockey players.


ART DORRINGTON (Truro, N.S.)

Truro’s Art Dorrington etched his place in history in 1950 when he became the first Black player to sign a professional contract with an NHL organization, joining the New York Rangers system.

A skilled goal scorer, Dorrington was never given the opportunity to showcase his talents with the Rangers at the game's highest level.

After retiring from the game following a standout minor league career, he continued changing lives by founding the Art Dorrington Ice Hockey Foundation, using hockey to teach life skills to young people in Atlantic City.

Inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 2004, Dorrington’s legacy endures far beyond the rink.




STAN “CHOOK” MAXWELL (Truro, N.S.)

Hailing from Truro, Stan “Chook” Maxwell stood out wherever he competed.

A pioneering star with the Quebec Aces and a dominant offensive threat with the Toledo Blades, he led the International Hockey League in scoring three times. Off the ice, Maxwell was equally exceptional in baseball with the Truro Bearcats, consistently ranking among the league’s top hitters.

Maxwell’s dual-sport excellence led to his Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame induction in 1980.




BILL RILEY (Amherst, N.S.)

On December 26, 1974, Amherst’s Bill Riley made history as the first player of African Nova Scotian descent (and just the third Black player) to compete in the NHL when he debuted with the Washington Capitals.

A hardworking winger, Riley played parts of five NHL seasons with the Capitals and Winnipeg Jets, recording 31 goals and 30 assists in 139 career games.

After his NHL career, the former Amherst Ramblers star would captain the AHL’s now-defunct New Brunswick Hawks to a Calder Cup championship in 1982. He also served as captain of the Halifax-based Nova Scotia Voyageurs.

In recognition of his impact, Riley was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1998.



JOHN PARIS JR. (Windsor, N.S.)

As a young and talented player growing up in Windsor, John Paris Jr. was scouted by the legendary Scotty Bowman, relocating to Quebec to play junior hockey. What followed was a groundbreaking coaching and leadership journey.

Paris became the first Black coach in the Canadian Hockey League, the first Black scout in the NHL, and the first Black general manager in professional hockey.

In 1994, Paris made history again as the first Black head coach in pro hockey, leading the Atlanta Knights to an IHL Turner Cup championship that same season.

Paris’ contributions were honoured with his Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame induction in 2005, and the rink at the West Hants Sports Complex now proudly bears his name.