Long before Everett Fitzhugh became the first African American to land a broadcasting role with the National Hockey League, he was a kid from northwest Detroit determined to forge a career within the sport he loves.

Now, as he comes to terms with the historical context surrounding his August 2020 signing as the newest play-by-play voice for the Seattle Kraken, Fitzhugh says he is ready to be an inspiration for other hockey lovers whose representation remains low both on the ice and behind the broadcast desk.

“If you’re in that position [as the first], if one finds themselves in that position, you owe it not only to the sport and the culture, but I think you owe it to yourself to take on that responsibility because hockey is a growing game, and you see a lot more Black people, a lot more minorities, a lot more women getting involved in the game,” Fitzhugh told Yahoo Sports.

“To see myself, who grew up on 8 Mile and Myers in Northwest Detroit — the first ever professional goal I set for myself was to get to the NHL,” he told Detroit’s Local 4 News.

Fitzhugh said his hockey passion was formed as a child watching the hometown Detroit Red Wings slash around the rink, a spectacle he wanted to remain a part of for life — although it rarely included anybody who resembled him.

A NHL logo was showed outside of Mercedes-Benz Arena prior to a pre-season National Hockey League game between the Vancouver Canucks and the LA Kings at Mercedes-Benz Arena on September 21, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Yifan Ding/NHLI via Getty Images)

“There’s a huge hockey community and a huge hockey fan base in Detroit,” he told Yahoo Sports. “So you’re kind of predisposed to it as an early age, no matter where you’re from in the city. And no matter who you are, Black or white, people know the game of hockey. You still didn’t have a lot of minorities playing the game or maybe interested in the game, but you’re definitely exposed to it from an early age, just being in the city.”

The Bowling Green State University graduate spent the previous five years as the play-by-play announcer for the Cincinatti Cyclones, a mid-level professional team in the ECHL, before graduating to the big league ranks — yet remains the only Black play-by-play broadcaster in any level of North American professional hockey.

“Representation matters,” he told Yahoo Sports. “I look back to me growing up in Detroit, being that 9-year-old Black kid who really likes the game of hockey, but you didn’t see a lot of folks who look like you in the game. I didn’t have a lot of those positive Black influences in the game of hockey to look up to. And the ones that I did have, it let me know that there was a place for me and my voice in the game of hockey.”

“It can be lonely sometimes, being a Black hockey fan and being able to see other players make their own way at such a young age it was huge and very inspiring for me,” he added. “Now, fast forward, over 20 years later, I see this as an opportunity to serve as that person that I never had growing up.”

Have you subscribed to theGrio podcasts, ‘Dear Culture’ or Acting Up? Download our newest episodes now!

TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today!

The post Everett Fitzhugh becomes first Black play-by-play broadcaster in the NHL appeared first on TheGrio.