In his memoir, Life in Two Worlds, former NHL coach of the year opens up about a hockey career dogged by racism — and what he hopes society can learn from his experiences
EDITOR'S NOTE: A version of this article originally appeared on SooToday on Nov. 8. It is being republished here for readers who may have missed it.During an interview about truth and reconciliation with TSN three years ago, the former National Hockey League coach of the year began speaking his truth about the racism that had dogged him from the time he was a junior hockey player all the way to his illustrious coaching career.
Penguin Random House Canada reached out to Nolan following the airing of The Unwanted Visitor, with the idea of working on a book detailing his lived experiences with racism as an Anishinaabe person in the game of hockey. It began in training camp with a couple of hockey players taking their sticks to his legs and cross checking him, and would eventually escalate with racial slurs being hurled at him and having to defend himself physically at a number of rinks in the area.
“To tell the truth, I don’t really know what made me stay,” he recalled. “I really wanted to fight, to show that we belonged in anything we chose to do — and by quitting, I always felt that you’re letting the bad guys win.” Nolan would eventually begin coaching as an assistant with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League at the request of Sault Ste. Marie hockey great Phil Esposito.After moving into the head coaching role, Nolan would lead the Greyhounds to the Memorial Cup championship in 1993.
“I was just very fortunate and very lucky that I was at the right place at the right time to become the coach of the Soo Greyhounds.”
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