How the Black Girl Hockey Club Impacts the Hurricanes Community

The Carolina Hurricanes kicked off their Hockey is for Everyone celebrations by hosting the Black Girls Hockey Club last night. How much have they impacted the Canes community?

Hockey is one of the best sports on the face of the planet. If you are here reading this, chances are you agree with me. It impacts every level of community it surrounds and can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or even disability. The Carolina Hurricanes embraced one of the biggest organizations pushing for hockey across America; The Black Girl Hockey Club.

The Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC) is a nonprofit organization that was founded two years ago with the mission of making hockey more inclusive for everyone, especially black women. Founded by Renee Hess, it has taken strides towards achieving that mission, with now more than 600 members.

Hess, as the executive director, has led the group to visiting teams across the NHL over the last two seasons. Last night they came and visited the Carolina Hurricanes who took the time to celebrate Black History Month along with Hockey is for everyone.

Their visit included a tour of the facilities before enjoying a massive pregame tailgate with two fan based organizations for the Carolina Hurricanes, the Red Eye Rowdies, and Redvolution Rampage. There was food, music, and drinks, as well as representation from the Carolina Hurricanes as well as NHL.com‘s Color of Hockey blog.

The latter is very interesting as it is a blog dedicated to persons of color in the sport of hockey at all levels. As a person of color myself I found what they had to offer very intriguing and genuinely invite everyone to visit their blog page.

During the tailgate BGHC met with and talked to various groups of fans and members of the Raleigh community emphasizing their mission and recruiting local support to helping them achieve it right here in North Carolina.

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It is more than safe to say that during their stay here the number of Carolina Hurricanes fans grew as they group helped break down the social barriers of sex and race towards becoming Hockey fans. To watch them interact with the many soon to be fans from across the metropolis of Raleigh and the surrounding cities was inspiring.

The Black Girl Hockey Club is continuing their trek across the Nation with their next stop in Columbus Ohio where the Blue Jackets are taking on another Canadian opponent in the Vancouver Canucks. As for now we welcome them back to the great state of North Carolina to watch another Carolina Hurricanes game. Perhaps one with better results. Perhaps an outdoor game?

Question for CC Readers: What do you think of the BGHC Mission?