The Podcast
The Minority League was created by two friends who were inspired by their love of good storytelling to take a look at how minorities navigate spaces that weren’t created for them. Anar and Manashi decided to do a podcast after they took their love of hockey on the road and traveled to Philadelphia in May 2021 for a Penguins vs Flyers game. Looking around the arena, they wondered why there weren’t many minority fans, players, or staff. Hockey is such a fun sport! It should be something everyone can enjoy, and that’s what The Minority League continues to look at in Season Three.
The Episodes
Season 3
Episode 11
Our interview continues with Ice Hockey in Harlem's Executive Director Malik Garvin and Board President JJ Velez. They talk about the need for community partnership to keep a program like theirs thriving and how corporate sponsors, the NHL and local volunteers are all crucial to this mission. We also discuss the need for growing the game and bringing new audiences to it, and we share all of our favorite hockey memories on our last episode of Season 3.
Episode 10
Malik Garvin and JJ Velez tell us about their organization - Ice Hockey in Harlem. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1987, and runs hockey and educational programs for lower income youth in New York City. Malik and JJ both participated in the program as kids, and now they are keeping the legacy going for the next generation.
Episode 9
On this episode, Alex Kim - Anaheim Junior Ducks' Director of Player Personnel and Head Coach - joins us. He also works as a scout for the United States Hockey League and is a founder of the Optimum Hockey Academy. He's working to grow the game for the Asian community through coaching, scouting and running a hockey Academy. He's even coached some current NHL players that you may recognize.
Episode 8
Sports agent John Kofi Osei-Tutu and professional hockey player Marc Johnstone join us on this episode. Johnstone made his NHL debut December 8, 2023 with the Pittsburgh Penguins when they played the Florida Panthers. They share their experiences navigating the sport and what it felt like to make an NHL debut after many years of dedication and hard work.
Episode 7
Former NHL defenseman Mark Fraser talks about his current role in hockey as director of culture and inclusion for the Toronto Maple Leafs and what motivated him to go back into hockey after he’d left the sport. The Leafs are hosting this season’s All Star Game, and he gives us a preview of some of the events he’s been involved in.
Episode 6
Bernice Carnegie is co-founder and co-chair of The Carnegie Initiative. Named for legendary Hockey Hall of Famer and social justice pioneer, Herb Carnegie, the organization focuses on inclusion and acceptance in hockey. Their upcoming CI Summit in Toronto is one not to be missed, bringing together changemakers within the sport ahead of the NHL's All Star events. Bernice speaks to us about her own extraordinary life, her involvement in the sport and what the Carnegie Initiative strives to accomplish.
Episode 5
National anthem singer, Sonya Bryson-Kirksey tells us about her role in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. We first noticed her when she was singing the national anthem during Lightning playoff games with her vibrant blue lipstick and her killer pipes. She loves introducing people to hockey and being a role model for women and people of color.
Episode 4
Children's book author Anthony Walsh tells us about the latest installment in his "Hockey is for Everybody" series. An advocate for diversity and inclusion in the sport, this former high school champion hockey player tells us about all of his pursuits both within the sport and outside of it. Additionally, Anar and Manashi talk about Diwali celebrations across the league and in their families!
Episode 3
On this episode, Michael Hutton shares an inspiring story of perseverance. He coaches youth hockey in North Carolina and tells us why he loves the sport and how it could possibly have saved his life.
Episode 2
Youth hockey coach Murat Pak, a former player of Turkish descent, tells us what it was like playing hockey in Germany as a kid. He shares the nuances of working with a wide range of international children and talks about the importance of organizations such as the NHL Coaches’ Association and Hockey Is Diversity.
Episode 1
We're back with our third season! During the break, there was a major announcement in the world of hockey. Tennessee State University is starting a hockey program, and it is the first HBCU to implement this sport. Nick Guerriero is the man pulling together the first ice hockey team at a historically black college and university.
Season 3 Preview
New episodes coming on October 10! Join us as we speak to guests including children’s book author Anthony Walsh, youth hockey coach Murat Pak, and Tennessee State University’s Nick Guerriero, to name just a few!
Season 2
Episode 13
We're thrilled that Frantz Jean, goaltending coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, joins us for the last episode of our season. He is active in the NHL Coaches Association BIPOC coaching program which focuses specifically to support minority coaches with skills development, career building and leadership initiatives. Jean currently coaches one of the best goalies in the NHL, Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Episode 12
On this episode, Kalamazoo Wings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, Joel Martin joins us. One of only two Black head coaches in professional hockey, he was promoted to this role in August 2022. Martin has had a formidable professional and coaching career up to this point. He's also active in the NHL Coaches' Association's BIPOC Coaches Program, which strives to support black, indigenous and coaches of color in areas of leadership, communication, skills and career development.
Episode 11
Sports journalist Tarik El-Bashir speaks with us on this episode. He's a reporter for TNT Hockey and a Senior Writer for The Athletic. Additionally, El-Bashir covers the Washington Capitals, and he's notably covered Alexander Ovechkin since his rookie year. He discusses his involvement with the Fort Dupont Cannons and the elements that can cause barriers for minorities to participate in hockey.
Episode 10
This week, we are so excited that we have our first return guest! Black Girl Hockey Club's formidable founder, Renee Hess, joins us again. She started the organization back in 2018 to encourage black girls and women to take part in hockey as fans and players. The organization has taken off since then, with a recent expansion into Canada. They have given out numerous scholarships and mentored women in an effort to grow the game. Anar and Manashi talk to Renee about these initiatives and more!
Episode 9
In this episode, we are talking to two people changing hockey in different ways, but whose paths have intersected: Swift Hockey founder Zechariah Thomas and Jaden Lindo, Manager of Community Hockey Programs at the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. Swift Hockey is changing the game by providing hockey sticks at a lower cost. Likewise, Lindo's programs are increasing accessibility of the game throughout the Pittsburgh area.
Episode 8
Naleli Danso speaks to us about what playing with the Baltimore Banners means to her and what it is like to be a transgender woman in this space. She tells us about the community that is the Banners and about the time she met Washington Capitals players. Additionally, Anar and Manashi discuss their wish lists for this year's All Star Game.
Episode 7
Founder Noel Acton of the Tender Bridge Foundation speaks with us. The Baltimore Banners is a part of this foundation, and it's a hockey team for at-risk youth in the area. The team is a safe space for kids and mentors to play the game, and it has made a huge impact on this community. Additionally, Anar and Manashi talk about their holiday break.
Episode 6
Alexandria Briggs-Blake of the Tucker Road Parent Hockey Association joins us this episode. She talks about how she's changing the face of hockey at many levels, from youth hockey in the state of Maryland and across the U.S., to working with the pros in the NHL. Also, Anar and Manashi talk about Hockey Fights Cancer and how it impacts their love of the game.
Episode 5
The Seattle Kraken's Mari Horita joins us for a discussion on the engagement efforts of the NHL's newest franchise. Mari is the Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Government Relations, and Executive Director of the One Roof Foundation. She talks about initiatives ranging from mental health to Learn to Skate programs that the Kraken has implemented plus what other engagement programs are coming up for this young team.
Episode 4
Nathaniel Brooks from the Arizona Coyotes joins us this week. He talks to us about his new role as Skills Development Coach, what his journey to the NHL was like, and how he's inspiring success for other minorities coming into the sport.
Episode 3
Former Washington Capitals player Bill Riley was the third Black player in the National Hockey League. He opens up about how he got started in hockey and went to play in the NHL as well as the racism he faced and how his playing days are remembered. Find out how Anar met this famous player, and how he’s continuing his legacy of good work.
Episode 2
We had a great first season, and we’re really looking forward to our second one! In this episode, we speak with sports journalist and writer Cecil Harris. He’s the author of Breaking the Ice, a book about Black players in professional hockey. Harris talks to us about his experiences covering the Carolina Hurricanes, what opportunities he thinks former Black players should have, and even shares some insight on tennis superstar Serena Williams' recent retirement.
Season 2 Preview
Just like the National Hockey League, we are back! Join us this season as we speak to some of the most influential people in hockey. We speak to one of the first Black players in the NHL - former Washington Capitals right winger Bill Riley, Arizona Coyotes coach Nathaniel Brooks, the Seattle Kraken's Mari Horita, sports journalist Cecil Harris, and more. New episodes start October 11th.
Season 1
Episode 11
It’s the final episode for this season! We speak with Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi broadcaster, Randip Janda. He tells us about his involvement with the Canucks organization and their Diwali celebrations and how community is a huge part of hockey. Also, Manashi and Anar wrap up what they've learned this season.
Episode 10
We return this week with the second part of our interview with Samson Cree goalie, Devin Buffalo. He shares his experiences playing college and professional hockey, and he tells us about the community outreach and coaching that he's currently involved with. Also, Anar and Manashi had a New York City adventure last month, and the ladies speak about their shenanigans together!
Episode 9
After a hiatus, we are back! We speak to Samson Cree goalie Devin Buffalo about his experiences playing hockey professionally and in youth leagues. He tells us about the initiatives he is now leading in his community, and he shares some tough stories with us. Anar and Manashi also discuss the Olympics and how the sports world is responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Episode 8
In this episode, the first Black player in the NHL - Willie O'Ree - talks about his favorite hockey memory. We also speak to rising NHL star Pierre-Olivier Joseph of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he and Delvina Morrow tell us more about some of the Penguins' outreach programs.
Episode 7
On this episode, we speak with two people who are actively working in the National Hockey League: Duante Abercrombie and Delvina Morrow. Abercrombie is the Assistant Ice Hockey Coach at Stevenson University, and Morrow is the Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives and DEI for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Episode 6
We bring you two former Fort Dupont Cannons players who are still integral to the organization. They talk about the challenges of being young black men playing hockey and what the opportunities are for playing professionally. This episode features Jaronte Jones and Hank Lee.
Episode 5
We bring you part two of our interview with Fort Dupont Cannons Coach Neal Henderson, along with two former players who are still actively involved with the team. Additionally, Manashi and Anar discuss diversity at the games that they've attended recently and the Vancouver Canucks’ celebration of Diwali earlier this month.
Episode 4
This episode we’re taking you to an ice skating rink in the Fort Dupont neighborhood in Washington DC to meet one of the most influential hockey players in the United States - Neal Henderson. In 1976, Coach Neal founded the oldest minority youth hockey league in the U.S., the Fort Dupont Cannons. Anar and Manashi talk about what it was like to meet Coach Henderson, and a Cannons player who has moves like a famous NHL player.
Episode 3
Hockey season is in full swing now. Manashi and Anar chat with Black Girl Hockey Club’s founder Renee Hess and Chanel Keenan, Intersectionality Consultant for the Seattle Kraken. Learn what prompted them to become hockey fans, what they love about the game, and how they're forging the way for cultural change within the sport. You'll hear about Anar and Manashi's adventures to see their favorite team.
Episode 2
It's the start of hockey season! Anar and Manashi speak to journalists Evan Moore and Jashvina Shah about their new book Game Misconduct: Hockey's Toxic Culture and How to Fix It. Find out how they became interested in hockey, what they think of the sport's culture, what it's like being a minority fan, and whether hockey organizations are doing enough to address racism. You'll also hear how Anar and Manashi became hockey fans.
Episode 1
We introduce you to our hosts and preview this season's content which will take a look at how people —especially minorities—live, work, and play in spaces not designed for them. We'll hear from notable professionals including players, administrators and journalists on what's happening with race in the world of hockey.
The Hosts
Manashi Mukherjee
Manashi Mukherjee is a TV executive by day (and night, and weekends) and when she has free time, she loves traveling, live music, riding her bike and cooking for her friends. While she has been a baseball fan for quite some time, her love for hockey emerged during the pandemic. Manashi's background is in news and journalism, having started her career at CNN. She currently oversees the studios and technical operations for a major network in Miami. Manashi has worked on numerous national and international productions throughout her career. While in her previous role at a media company in New York, she headed up a DEI initiative which increased outreach for jobs in television to previously underrepresented groups.
Manashi has always rooted for the underdog, and she loves a good "worst to first" sports story. She also volunteers time mentoring coworkers who want to advance in the corporate world of television production.
Anar Virji
Anar is a writer, kayaker, rower, and hockey fan who lives in Washington DC, where she also does volunteer work ranging from get out the vote efforts to Covid-19 vaccine outreach. She sustains her hockey habit through her work as a TV journalist for Al Jazeera English, an international news organization. Anar has reported on the 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections, President Donald Trump’s impeachments, the effects of climate change on Alaska Native villages in Alaska, the sovereignty of Native American nations and tribes, climate change, race in the U.S., immigration, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other current events. She's won multiple awards from the Native American Journalists Association for her work, including stories on the Violence Against Women Act and the cleanup of the United States’ largest toxic waste site, the Tar Creek Superfund site, in Oklahoma.
Anar is a member of SAG-AFTRA and one of her union’s shop stewards.
