Sarah Nurse was the first Black woman to ever play in an Olympic hockey final. Now, as part of the PWHPA, Nurse (who recently inspired an official Barbie doll in her image) has become a role model for the game’s next generation. Show Notes To celebrate International Women’s Day, we at Barrier Breakers wanted to celebrate one of the most inspiring and outspoken women in our game: Hamilton’s own Sarah Nurse. As Sarah says off the top of our episode, “It's difficult for women and women of colour to get into hockey because there are so many people telling us that we can't and that we shouldn't.” W ..read more

Scarborough-born Leaf Wayne Simmonds is a potent force on the ice for the Leafs. But he’s working to bring change in the wider hockey community as well, through the Hockey Diversity Alliance. Show Notes Although he is presently out with a broken wrist, off-season acquisition Wayne Simmonds has already made a massive impression with Leaf Nation. Making his presence felt, physically and emotionally, whenever he’s been called upon.  Wayne is the 8th Black player to wear the Maple Leaf. And he’s the first one to do so in a world where players feel confident enough to speak openly about racism ..read more

He could have been the Jackie Robinson of Hockey. Born too soon, Herb Carnegie still inspired generations—and left a Marvel-ous legacy. Show Notes Herb Carnegie may not have had the language to call out the racism he encountered in hockey in the 1930s and 40s. But that’s what it was. The game of hockey Herb Carnegie grew up in was staunchly and unapologetically racist. And you can’t  just take that out of the sport and the culture in a decade. Or even over 70 years for that matter. Not without a real reckoning.  Hopefully, we’re beginning to have that reckoning in our sport now. We w ..read more

From being the only Black kid in town to surviving life on the street, Leafs alumn John Craighead’s road to The Show was an epic of courage and persistence. SHOW NOTES Presented by Leafs Forever, Barrier Breakers is a mini-series about race, hockey and the way forward. The show aims to celebrate Black players and fans who’ve broken barriers and helped change our game for the better.  Today’s episode tells the story of Leafs alumni John Craighead’s road to the NHL. Though he’d only play 5 regular season games for the Blue and White, John’s journey to the Show is an epic tale of courage and ..read more

Renee Hess and hockey were never supposed to meet. But when they did, Renee’s nascent fandom inspired game changing community action, as the Black Girl Hockey Club was born. SHOW NOTES Presented by Leafs Forever, Barrier Breakers is a mini-series about race, hockey and the way forward. The show aims to celebrate Black players and fans who’ve broken barriers and helped change our game for the better. Today’s episode tells the story of Renee Hess, the founder of Black Girl Hockey Club. It charts her journey from hockey oblivious to hockey obsessed, and then charts the creation of the BGHC. After ..read more

The story of the fastest 180 degree turn-around in franchise history; of how Cliff Fletcher re-built the Leafs in a year and brought the team within a missed call of a Stanley Cup Final. CREDITS: Leafs Forever is hosted by Scott Willats & written by Paul Matthews. This episode was produced by Katie Jensen & Vocal Fry Studios for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Special thanks to everyone who sat down with us to help us tell this story. First and foremost, Mr. Cliff Fletcher, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Felix Potvin, Nikolay Borshevsky, Joe Bowen, and Andi Petrillo. You can catch An ..read more

If you blinked during the 1986/7 season, you might have missed Val James' stint as a Maple Leaf. But those four games broke the colour barrier for the Blue and White, and marked the culmination of an amazing story of perseverance.  CREDITS: Today's episode was written by Scott Willats and Paul Matthews, and produced by Katie Jensen and Vocal Fry Studios for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Special thanks to the beautiful people who helped us tell this story. First and foremost, Val himself. But a big thank you too to Kwame Mason, whose film Soul on Ice, is a must watch. Go rent it on ..read more

He scored among the most iconic goals in Stanley Cup history, then disappeared without a trace. You may know Bill Barilko from the Tragically Hip’s ’50 Mission Cap.' But prepare to meet the man behind the myth.  Amongst the treasured images and memorabilia inside the Leafs' locker room, few are quite as esteemed as one of two original lyric sheets to the Tragically Hip's '50 Mission Cap.' Signed by the band, and framed alongside the Pro Set 1991 hockey card that inspired lead singer Gord Downie to pen the song, the lyric sheet has pride of place in the equipment room - where it continues ..read more

The Hockey Sweater is among the most beloved children’s books in Canadian history. Author Roch Carrier and journalist Shireen Ahmed discuss how the story was written, and what it still has to teach us about our world, and our game.  Roch Carrier’s The Hockey Sweater still has an immense amount to say about sports, identity and belonging. It is still among the most read hockey stories written for children, but, as Shireen Ahmed acknowledges in this episode, keeping up with how the game is changing requires broadening the stories we tell about it as well.  Here, courtesy of Shireen Ahm ..read more

In 1976, no one picked the Toronto Maple Leafs to beat the back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning Philadelphia Flyers in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Leafs coach Red Kelly knew that, to best the 'Broad Street Bullies,' he'd need more than superior strategy. He'd need an ace in the hole: a twelve foot pyramid in the middle of his locker room. Whether he truly believed in the power of pyramids of not, he was willing to do anything. And in the mysticism-friendly 1970s, the power of pyramids almost inspired his troops to greatness.  The world of this week's story seems a million miles away from t ..read more