Wikipedia

Neal Henderson (ice hockey)

O"Neal Henderson (born July 9, 1937) is the coach for the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club since 1978. Black players have mainly been on his team leading up to the 2020s. Before starting the Washington, D.C. team, Henderson was a hockey player before becoming a coach at Hill Air Force Base. Between the late 1990s to early 2000s, Henderson was the vice president for the NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force. In 2005, he co-created the Hockey in the Hood tournament in Detroit. Outside of hockey, Henderson worked for the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles while at Fort Dupont.

Henderson received the 2007 Wm. Thayer Tutt Award from USA Hockey and was nominated for the 2018 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award held by the NHL. The Washington Capitals selected him to make multiple ceremonial first puck appearances during the late 2010s. In 2019, Henderson joined the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. With this honor, he was the "first black inductee and third person of color" to be picked.[1] Henderson was also selected to become part of the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

Early life

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Henderson's birth occurred in Saint Croix during July 9, 1937.[2] During his childhood, he became a hockey player while living St. Catharines.[3] For his high school education, Henderson went to Washington, D.C.[4] As a student, Henderson continued his playing experience while also working in maintenance for the Uline Arena.[5][6]

Career

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Playing and coaching career

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By the 1960s, Henderson was a hockey player in Salt Lake City, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.[7][8] During this time period, Henderson became a coach while at Hill Air Force Base.[1] Leading up to the late 1970s, Henderson provided "the frozen driveway of his home in Springdale, Maryland" as a place to play youth hockey.[9] He went to Washington, D.C. during 1978 to create the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club.[10] By the late 1980s, Henderson had worked for Hyattsville high schools as their coach.[5]

With Fort Dupont, Henderson teaches hockey to children and adults on his co-ed sports team at Fort Dupont Ice Arena.[11] Leading up to the 2020s, Black players have mainly been on his team.[12][13] At Fort Dupont, he taught values and made good grades a requirement.[8] Before his team comes to play, Henderson evaluates the arena and gear.[11] He has also fixed the team's clothing when they were not playing.[14]

Additional positions

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During 1996, Henderson took part in a renovation of the Fort Dupont Ice Rink after it shut down that year.[15] With the NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force, Henderson was their vice president in 1998.[14] In 2003, he continued to hold this position.[8] For Detroit youth, he co-created the Hockey in the Hood tournament with William McCants during 2005.[16] He is a member of the BIPOC Coaches Program created by the NHL Coaches Association.[17]

Outside of hockey, Henderson was an American football and basketball coach while in Washington D. C.[6] While at Fort Dupont, Henderson was working for the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles in 1986.[5] By 2003, he had ended his time at the DMV as their supervisor.[8] He had also worked in automotive safety as an assistant by 2008.[7]

Awards and honors

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With "his contribution to Washington area high school athletics", The Washington Post gave the Donald Huff Award to Henderson in 2003.[18] For his volunteerism, USA Hockey gave him the 2007 Wm. Thayer Tutt Award.[19][20] Henderson received the Bridgestone Mark Messier Youth Leadership Award in 2010.[21] He was a nominee for the 2018 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award held by the NHL.[22]

In the late 2010s, Henderson was chosen to make multiple ceremonial first puck appearances at Washington Capitals games.[23][24] During 2019, Coach Neal Henderson Day was created in Washington D. C. by Muriel Bowser.[25] That year, Henderson joined the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.[26][27] With this honor, Henderson was the "first black inductee and third person of color" to be chosen.[1] He was selected to join the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.[28] Practice equipment recognizing Henderson and Fort Dupont were created by the Capitals in 2022.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Douglas, William (December 9, 2019). "Henderson made difference on way to U.S. Hall of Fame". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Soong, Kelyn (November 8, 2018). Warren, Will (ed.). "The People Issue 2018". Washington City Paper. Neal Henderson The Hockey Ambassador. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Burnside, Scott (February 18, 2009). "Programs giving kids chance to play". ESPN. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Sutton, Charles E. (January 5, 2014). "Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club". The Washington Informer. p. 24. ProQuest 1033196496. Retrieved November 17, 2023 – via Proquest.
  5. ^ a b c Yorke, Jeffrey (January 31, 1986). "Ice Elation: A Love That Can Last A Lifetime". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Bogage, Jacob (June 20, 2018). "Honoring a District community hero - on the ice". The Washington Post. p. D11.
  7. ^ a b Morreale, Mike G. (December 10, 2008). "Ovechkin is just one of the kids". NHL.com. sec. Teaching life through hockey. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Fitzgibbons, Colin (January 24, 2003). "Using Ice to Get a Firm Footing". The Washington Post. p. D01. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Unger, Mike (March 1, 2009). "Spotlight: Giving Kids a Shot". The Washingtonian. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Fort Dupont Cannons - History". Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Johnson, Martenzie (October 4, 2019). "How legendary coach Neal Henderson serves the youth through hockey". Andscape. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Kantor, Jacqueline (March 11, 2014). "Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club continues to break the mold as rare minority youth hockey program". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Dvorak, Petula (May 2, 2022). "This hockey coach spent decades saving lives. Let's save his ice". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Montgomery, David (June 15, 1998). "An Assist in Changing Hockey's Face". The Washington Post. p. C01. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  15. ^ Wheeler, Linda (September 7, 1996). "Some Real Ice Savers". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  16. ^ Harris, Paul (March 9, 2005). "'Hockey in the Hood' brings together Detroit, D.C., groups". Hockey Weekly. Vol. 31, no. 7. p. 4. ISSN 0746-7451.
  17. ^ "NHLCA BIPOC Coaches Spotlight". National Hockey League Coaches' Association. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Evans, Judith (June 3, 2008). "Teamwork Comes First; Ripken Stresses Good Character; Wootten Honored". The Washington Post. p. D08.
  19. ^ "Annual Awards". USA Hockey. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  20. ^ Thompson, Harry (November 2013). "Equal Ice". USA Hockey Magazine. Vol. 36, no. 9. p. 20. ISSN 1551-6741. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  21. ^ Tire Review Staff (June 3, 2010). "D.C. Coach Wins Bridgestone Messier Award". Tire Review. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  22. ^ Piller, Thomas (May 28, 2018). "Humboldt Broncos' Darcy Haugan finalist for Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award". Global News. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  23. ^ Khurshudyan, Isabella (February 24, 2018). "Chicago fans donate $23,000 to Fort Dupont in support of Caps' Devante Smith-Pelly". The Washington Post. p. D4.
  24. ^ Washington Capitals (December 11, 2019). "2019 U.S. Hockey HOF Class to Participate in Ceremonial Puck Drop". WashingtonCaps.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  25. ^ Collins, Sam P.K. (December 18, 2019). "D.C.'s Legendary Coach Neal Henderson: Teaching Hockey and Black History". The Washington Informer. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  26. ^ "Neal Henderson". U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  27. ^ USA Hockey (December 12, 2019). "Class of 2019 Enshrined into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame". U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  28. ^ "Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame to induct Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 at Nationals Park". MLB.com (Press release). August 26, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  29. ^ Pusatory, Matt; Hunsicker, Tom (February 28, 2022). "Capitals wear special black jerseys in honor of Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, Neal Henderson". WUSA9. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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