Diversity Profile -- Jerome Iginla, Calgary Flames
In the Nigerian language his last name means, "Big Tree." Calgary's Jerome Iginla is not only a "Big Tree," he's the "Big Man" in Calgary and he's also the young man you'd love your daughter to bring home.
He's the second leading scorer in the NHL. He was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and lists as his hockey idols, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Grant Fuhr, all members of those former great Stanley Cup winning Edmonton Oilers teams.
Ironically, he plays for the Oilers' cross province rivals, the Calgary Flames, and Jerome Iginla (his name is pronounced EE-GEN-LAH), couldn't be any happier.
He's the son of a black Nigerian father and a white Canadian mother, who were divorced when Jerome was two years old.
Jerome's maternal grandfather was one of the biggest influences on him, taking him to hockey games when neither of his parents could.
Unlike some of the other minority players, Jerome says he never felt any prejudice towards him. No one ever made any derogatory comments, either.
He is one of the "ambassadors" on the Diversity Task Force and for every goal that he scores, the player who the Flames call "Iggy," donates $1,000 CND to Kidsport Calgary, which helps underprivileged children afford hockey equipment, which can be very expensive.
As gifted as Jerome is, one would think he'd want to be in hockey forever, either as a coach or in some other capacity. But he doesn't. After his playing career is over, and he's only in his early twenties, that's it for hockey.
Jerome feels that the NHL is doing a very good job of marketing hockey to minorities.
He doesn't feel that minority players need to be featured on television stations like "BET" or in magazines like Ebony or Essence to get the word out that hockey is for everybody.
He's not a household name now, but "Iggy" has a very good shot of winning the Art Ross Trophy, which is given at the end of the hockey season to the leading scorer in the league.
Who knows, he may not have to wait that long. In the middle of the season, which should come in January, every hockey fan will know who number 12 of the Calgary Flames is -- a very special player and not just because of the color of his skin, but because of his God given abilities.
Ironically, he plays for the Oilers' cross province rivals, the Calgary Flames, and Jerome Iginla (his name is pronounced EE-GEN-LAH), couldn't be any happier.
He's the son of a black Nigerian father and a white Canadian mother, who were divorced when Jerome was two years old.
Jerome's maternal grandfather was one of the biggest influences on him, taking him to hockey games when neither of his parents could.
Unlike some of the other minority players, Jerome says he never felt any prejudice towards him. No one ever made any derogatory comments, either.
He is one of the "ambassadors" on the Diversity Task Force and for every goal that he scores, the player who the Flames call "Iggy," donates $1,000 CND to Kidsport Calgary, which helps underprivileged children afford hockey equipment, which can be very expensive.
As gifted as Jerome is, one would think he'd want to be in hockey forever, either as a coach or in some other capacity. But he doesn't. After his playing career is over, and he's only in his early twenties, that's it for hockey.
Jerome feels that the NHL is doing a very good job of marketing hockey to minorities.
He doesn't feel that minority players need to be featured on television stations like "BET" or in magazines like Ebony or Essence to get the word out that hockey is for everybody.
He's not a household name now, but "Iggy" has a very good shot of winning the Art Ross Trophy, which is given at the end of the hockey season to the leading scorer in the league.
Who knows, he may not have to wait that long. In the middle of the season, which should come in January, every hockey fan will know who number 12 of the Calgary Flames is -- a very special player and not just because of the color of his skin, but because of his God given abilities.
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