John Utendale

John Frederick Utendale (; January 15, 1937 – August 24, 2006) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, ice hockey coach, and college professor. He signed a contract with the Detroit Red Wings in 1955, becoming the first Black man to sign a contract with a National Hockey League team. Utendale later became a professor at Western Washington State College (now Western Washington University) as the first Black faculty member of the school's Woodring College of Education.

Early life and hockey career

Utendale was born on January 15, 1937, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to father Alfred and mother Grayce. While still in high school, he began playing hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He signed a contract with the Red Wings in 1955, three years before Willie O'Ree broke the NHL's color barrier by playing his first game with the Boston Bruins. Utendale practiced with the Red Wings but never played in an NHL game. He played with the Red Wings' minor league affiliate, the Edmonton Flyers. During the 1958–59 season, Utendale played with the Quebec Aces with fellow Black players O'Ree and Stan Maxwell on "The Black Line".

In 2006, John's brother Paul Utendale claimed that Jack Adams, the Red Wings' coach and general manager, refused to give John any playing time because Adams objected to John's relationship with Mickey, a white woman who he later married. Mickey and her son Robb said in 2021 that they suspect that John’s relationship with Mickey prevented John from getting playing time with the Red Wings.

Transition to education

Utendale earned a teaching certificate from the University of British Columbia in 1961. Utendale earned an undergraduate degree in education at the University of Alberta in 1963, after only two years of study while playing semi-pro hockey for local teams.

Utendale retired from WWU in 2001. He remained in Bellingham until his death in 2006.

Personal life

Utendale married Maryan "Mickey" Maddison Leonard in 1959. They remained married until his death from cancer in 2006. The couple had two sons.

The Seattle Kraken honored Utendale at its February 24, 2022, game as part of Black History Month festivities.