By Chandler McDougal, Intern
Herbert H. Carnegie “Herb” was born on November 8th, 1919, in Toronto, Canada. His parents Adina James Mitchell and George Nathaniel Carnegie were originally from Jamaica but immigrated to Canada. Herb began his hockey career at the age of eight and his aspirations of becoming a professional in the field grew evermore. Although his skillset was recognized, Carnegie had to deal with bigotry and racist attitudes all throughout his career. In 1938, at the age of 19, Carnegie would star on the Toronto Young Rangers junior team. The NHL took notice and hometown team Toronto Maple Leafs would almost make him the first Black hockey player in history; however, Carnegie did not match up to their pigment aspirations. Corn Smythe, owner of the Maple Leafs at this time would state “I would take Carnegie tomorrow if I could turn him white”. Similar versions of this story report Smythe would pay anyone up to $10,000 ($188,732 in today’s time) to turn Carnegie white.
Despite all of the turmoil surrounding Carnegie due to his melanin, he would prove all of his bigots wrong with his stellar play throughout his semi-league career. Carnegie would then play for the Timmins Buffalo Ankerites from 1940-1942. The Ankerites in 1941, would be the first semi-pro team to field an all-black lineup, featuring Carnegie as the focal point. Thus the nickname for this team “The Black Aces” was born for the Ankerites. In the two years Carnegie played for the Ankerites, he lead them to two league championships in back-to-back seasons. Due to his stellar performance in the semi-professional league, the Quebec Provincial Hockey League (QPHL). Carnegie would join this league and Shawnigan Cataractes in 1944. Although he only played for this team for one season, his most impressive season was still to come in 1947-1948. During this season, Carnegie played for the Sherbrooke Saints and he would score 127 points (48 goals, and 79 assists) in only 56 games. Once again, the NHL took notice of his prowess skillset and came knocking on his door.
The New York Rangers would invite Carnegie to their training camp in 1948 to tryout for their roster. Disappointingly, the Rangers only offered Carnegie a minor-league spot that was worth less than his original contract with the Saints. Carnegie would reject their offer and return to the Saints for the 1948-1949 season. After another stellar season with the team, he decided it was time for a fresh start and transferred to the Quebec Aces where he played with future Montreal Canadians legend and Hall of Famer Jean Béliveau. According to Béliveau, Carnegie was a super hockey player, a beautiful style, a beautiful skater, a great playmaker. In those days, the younger ones learned from the older ones. I learned from Herbie.” Herbie would play only four more seasons before retiring in 1954 with the Owen Sound Mercuries of the Ontario Hockey Association Senior A League.
Although, racism and bigotry is the reasoning behind the NHL denying Carnegie’s dreams, he did not allow this to make an impact he would have on many people to come. Prejudice weighed heavily on the shoulders of Carnegie as he emotionally had an interview with CBC in 2009. Carnegie has written that hockey fans would “hurled insults and derogatory terms at him and other Black players throughout his amateur and semi-professional careers.”. Carnegie would shoulder through the bigot statements and actions to create an impact that has been felt generations later by all.
Post-retirement, Carnegie would join an Investors Group in 1964. Carnegie would become the first Black investor employed by the company and make an impact there as well. The next year, he would establish the Future Aces Hockey school, the first registered hockey school in Canada. He and his wife, Audrey would also establish the “Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation” to develop youth into becoming responsible and capable future adults. The foundation has provided over $600,000 in scholarships to its eligible members. Sadly enough, Herb Carnegie would pass on March 9th, 2012, in his hometown of Toronto, Canada. Without the NHL, Carnegie would receive the recognition he rightfully deserved. He was introduced into the Owen Sound Sports Hall of Fame (1997), International Afro-American Hall of Fame and Gallery (1997), Canada Sports Hall of Fame (2001), Senior Hall of Fame Immortal (2004), the Black Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame (2006), and the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (2007). Additionally, Carnegie would have numerous hockey monuments named after him all across New York and Canada to recognize his accomplishments. Although, the NHL held his dreams back in the 1930s-1950s, Carnegie would not let his inner dream die. His actions and leadership amongst Black athletes have lasted generations and will continue to inspire more generations to come.
Carnegie passed away in 2012.
To Learn More/Resources:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012/03/15/herb_carnegies_legacy_celebrated.html
https://www.oceansidesanctuary.org/blog/profiles-in-black-history-herb-carnegie
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/131709-herb-carnegie-hockeys-first-black-superstar
https://www.sportsnet.ca/longform/inside-fight-get-herb-carnegie-hockey-hall-fame/
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/herb-carnegie
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