Hockey history was made Wednesday when coaches Jason Payne and Joel Martin squared off in an ECHL game in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
This is the first time in ECHL history and is believed to be the first time in North American men’s professional hockey that two black coaches have faced off.
Payne’s Cincinnati Cyclones defeated Martin’s Kalamazoo Wings, 2-1, in the matinee at the Wings Events Center in front of thousands of local school students on “Education Day.”
“It’s humbling to be part of history,” Martin said. “I think it’s super cool to be able to do it with someone who’s been a friend of mine for a while after coaching with him in the league there, Jason Payne. So that makes it a bit more special.”
Each coach said they hope the historic meeting serves as an inspiration to people of color who want to become professional hockey coaches.
“It’s been a long time coming and it’s great for hockey in general and the world in general to be able to see two coaches of color training against each other, taking the leap, achieving these historic milestones,” Payne said. “Joel and I have worked hard to get to where we are and to take this step and have an impact on hockey.
“Kids see players of color and say, ‘I can be that player. Now they can see two guys, as they say, “bench bosses,” and they can say, “Oh, there’s another job I can possibly get into one day if I work hard enough for it.” That’s what’s most rewarding for all of us.”
Martin, who was named coach of Kalamazoo on Aug. 15, is in his first season at the helm of the ECHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets as coach and director of hockey operations. The 40-year-old, who was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and is an ECHL Hall of Fame goaltender, has served as the Wings’ assistant and goalie coach for the past three seasons .
He was promoted to replace coach Nick Bootland, who was hired as an assistant for the Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Washington Capitals.
Toronto-born Payne, 47, is in his third season as coach and director of hockey operations for Cincinnati, the Buffalo Sabers AHL farm team, after taking over from Matt Thomas, who was hired by Providence, the AHL team of the Boston Bruins.
Payne was an assistant for the Cyclones from 2018 to 2021 after a 14-year career in the minor leagues as a forward and defenseman.
ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin said Wednesday’s coaches game reflects the evolution of hockey.
“There’s a movement at all levels when it comes to hockey for everyone and we’re becoming more diverse, unfortunately it’s not happening overnight, but it’s moving in the right direction,” Crelin said. . “They’re two phenomenal guys who have been in our league for a long, long time and worked their way up to head coaching. It’s pretty cool to see that.”
Payne and Martin are each members of the NHL Coaches’ Association’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) program, an initiative that aims to support coaches in several areas, including skill development, leadership strategies, communication tactics and networking. Martin also participated in the Boston Bruins’ Diversity and Inclusion Mentorship Program last season.
“Jason and Joel are leading the way for black coaches at all levels of sport,” said NHLCA President Lindsay Artkin. “It’s incredibly exciting to see. They’ve both been members of the NHLCA’s BIPOC Coaching Program since day one. The primary goal of our program is to develop a diverse coaching talent pool who are ready to move up to the NHL level, and those guys are in. I have no doubt we’ll see them behind the bench in the NHL soon.
Payne and Martin are among seven black coaches in North American men’s professional hockey history. Dirk Graham became the NHL’s first black coach when he coached the Chicago Blackhawks for 59 games in 1998-99.
John Paris Jr. became the first black coach to win a professional championship when Atlanta of the former International Hockey League won the Turner Cup in 1994.
The others are Shawn Wheeler (Charlotte, ECHL, 1998-2000), Graeme Townshend (Macon, Central Hockey League, 1999-2001, Greensboro, ECHL, 2001-02) and Leo Thomas (Macon, Southern Professional Hockey League, 2018-19 ).
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