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The student at Boston University is the first black hockey player in the men's team of the USA team. U.S.

10.02.2018

Jordan Greenway did not have much time to think about being a pioneer.

The Boston University striker was preparing for his third year last summer when he heard that USA Hockey could be calling college and minors. professionals in the league to complete their Olympic list. It was only after the NHL players were officially discarded and Greenway had the team tell him he would be the first African-American man on the US Olympic team. U.S.

"I'm happy to be the first, I hope to be the first of many," he said last month after practicing with the Terriers on campus. "I hope it inspires other children to want to do the same, to try something different."

One 6-foot-6, 238-pound winger who has 25 points in 28 games for the Terriers this season, Greenway played in the 2017 world championship and was second in points in the United States team that won the junior world championship the year past. He could be the first American to win the junior world and the Olympic gold.

WCVB-TV "title =" "data-src =" https://hips.htvapps.com/htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/images/ap-18037074661822.jpg?crop=1xw: 1xh; center, top and resize = 660: * "src =" data: image / gif; base64, R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP /// yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 "/></div></p></div></p></div><p> USA Hockey CEO Pat Kelleher called Greenway" one of the best hockey players "who also has the potential of awakening interest in hockey in communities that have not traditionally played it.</p><p> "I think a lot of kids saw him doing it in the junior world last year," Kelleher said. "Fortunately, more and more people and Families who watch the Olympics will be attracted to our team and their success. And fortunately some children or some families identify with Jordan and get inspired to get involved in our game. "</p><p> Raised by a white mother in Canton, New York, a town about 20 miles from the Canadian border, Greenway He said he is used to being one of the only African-Americans on the ice, or at family gatherings.</p><p> "I was able to fit in pretty well," he said. "I grew up in a white population. So it really has not been different, just a way of life for me when I was little. It has not been different at all. "</p><p> Greenway played for BU at the Beanpot on Monday night, attending the Terriers' second goal in a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Harvard. BU plays in the championship game next week for the bragging rights of Boston University Hockey, Greenway will be in South Korea (Ryan Donato, of Harvard, also heads to the Olympics, on the same flight)</p><p> ]</p><p> Growing about 2 hours at Lake Placid, Greenway said he dreamed of playing in the Olympics "like all children." But he was not thinking about Pyeongchang or even Beijing in 2022, he had his sights set on eight or 12 years on the line.</p><p> "I never thought it would come so soon, like before I graduated from college," he said, "but I'm excited it's happening this year and I'm going to make the most of it."</p><p> A selection of second ro In the 2015 Minnesota Wild, Greenway is a great forward who said he likes to get in front of the net and "dress a team". Growing up, he modeled his game after players like Kings and Flyers encouraged Wayne Simmonds, "not because he's African-American," he said, laughing at the coincidence.</p><p> "It's more fair because I believe it and I have a similar style of play," Greenway said, adding Joe Thornton to the list of role models. "It's a big body, a lot in front of the net"</p><p> Also on the list: Willie O'Ree, who broke the NHL color barrier when he played for the Boston Bruins in 1958.</p><p> "It was definitely someone I admired as a child," Greenway said. "I just hope I can be the same inspiration for another child, and hopefully many children can admire me the way I admired them."</p><p> Respect is mutual.</p><p> Speaking at a Boston Bruins game last month to commemorate the 60th anniversary of his milestone debut, O'Ree said he was happy to see Greenway take down another barrier. And although he advised Greenway to just work hard and do his best, he also said it could take some time for the importance of the moment to assimilate.</p><p> "When I first stepped on the ice at the Montreal Forum and became the first black player to play in the NHL, he did not really sign up with me until after the game." None of the media came up and said, "Mr. O'Ree, Do you realize that you just broke the color? barrier? '</p><p> "I read it in the newspaper the next morning," he said. "And I said to myself, 'I made things happen'"</p></p></div> </pre><p> <a href= Link of origin

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