Washington, DC (WUSA9) — WASHINGTON -- John Cotten, Director of the National Capital Hockey Tournament says hockey is becoming more diverse in DC thanks to programs like they have at Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Southeast which makes hockey more affordable and accessible.
Some of the best African American hockey players around got their start at Fort Dupont, even Gonzaga’s goalie Jalen Greene who dominated the ice on the Eagles Varsity team all four years of high school. He even helped his team bring home the state title.
“If you’re tense and not really on point, it’s going to reflect in how your team plays, so it’s really on you,” explains Greene, “The game is on you.”
Jalen likes the pressure of the game and the pressure of being the only African American.
“I had a lot on my back.I couldn’t do anything wrong, but it was cool having little kids look up to me,” he said. "They were like ‘wow I can’t believe, he’s the only one out there that’s really cool, maybe I can try this one day,’ so I think it’s just going to grow from there and evolve.”
Cotton has mentored and coached Jalen throughout his high school career. And in that time, they’ve both seen different faces cheering in the crowd and playing on the ice.
“I think it’s pretty cool that different communities aside from the black community are watching hockey,” said Greene. “The Caps doing as well as they’re doing sparked a different type of excitement for the sport,” added Cotton.
Green will attend Hampton University in the fall but says there is a Junior Hockey Team nearby that he hopes to join.
