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By Michael Roberson, For TheAfricanAmericanAthlete.com
On the Fifth of July 2022, the San Jose Sharks hired ex-NHL player [Sharks], Mike Grier, in a monumental moment in time, in the Capital City of the Silicon Valley.
“It means a lot to me,” Grier said at his introductory news conference.
“It’s not something I take lightly. I realize there’s a responsibility that comes with the territory. But I’m up for it. How I carry myself and how this organization carries itself, I think we’ll do well, and hopefully, we’ll leave a footprint and open some doors for people to follow.”
Grier, a 14-year veteran of the NHL, reached an unprecedented milestone, the distinction of being the first African American General Manager of a National Hockey League franchise.
This wasn’t his initial FIRST, because in 1996, his NHL debut made the star player the primary American-born [Detroit, MI] and trained Black player in the then 79-year existence of the league.
Valmore James was on the NHL ice 15 years before Grier, representing the Buffalo Sabres, making him the first American-born [Ocala, FL] player in NHL history. However, James was trained in Canada, distinguishing him from Grier’s accomplishment.
Willie O’Ree, the ‘Jackie Robinson of Ice Hockey,’ broke the NHL color barrier 11 years after Robinson’s 1947 MLB debut, whom O’Ree said he met as a youth, years before his debut for the Boston Bruins.
Grier, the 47-year-old husband and father of three, understands his historical connection to O’Ree and James:
“I haven’t talked to them recently but being able to share moments with Willie [O’Ree] and talk with him during those camps and clinics was something that meant the world to me,” he said. “He’s a great man, and if anyone who loves hockey, he’s definitely someone you should try to get a chance to sit down with and have a conversation with.”
When Grier signed his name on the dotted line, he completed the quartet of First Black General Managers in the major pro sports leagues in North America:
- 1972 (NBA) Milwaukee Bucks – Wayne Embry
- 1993 {MLB) Houston Astros – Bob Watson
- 2002 (NFL) Baltimore Ravens – Ozzie Newsome
- 2022 (NHL) San Jose Sharks – Mike Grier
Coincidentally, Mike’s older brother, Chris, is currently the GM of the Miami Dolphins. His father, Bobby, is a consultant for the Dolphins.
Both men are proud of their brother and son. However, Mike feels these two were an inspiration, and he can rely on them for advice.
“Growing up, we talked about the challenges of building rosters and things like that at dinner,” he said. “I would want to talk football, and they would want to talk hockey. I lean on them a lot.
“They get a different perspective because of the sports, but I definitely lean on them a lot and trust their input.”
Grier signed with the Sharks almost 16 years to the day he inked the deal for his current post with the team. During his three-year stay in Santa Clara County, he amassed seventy-eight points in 221 games, while the team had moderate success, including having the best overall record (Presidents’ Trophy} in 2009.
The St. Louis Blues drafted Grier in the ninth round in 1993. However, he chose to attend college and play for renowned NCAA powerhouse Boston University.
His rights were eventually traded to the Edmonton Oilers. While at BU, he garnered countless awards and helped lead them to a national championship in 1995. Although he was selected as team Captain for his senior season, he took his talents to the province of Alberta.
Grier was so well prepared at Boston University that he was in the lineup for the Edmonton Oilers to open the 1996-97 season without any time in the minors.
During his 14-year career in the NHL, Mike was able to reach a few significant milestones. While playing for the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres twice and the San Jose Sharks, Grier appeared in 1,060 games, 101 playoffs games, and tallied 383 points (162 goals & 221 assists). In the playoffs, he totaled twenty-eight points, with fourteen goals and assists each.
After his stellar tenure on the ice, Grier made a smooth segue to the front office and coaching. He served as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks, an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils, and operations advisor for the New York Rangers.
Upon his return to San Jose, he is obviously in a different role, the team is on a below-average level, and he can impact the success or failure from a unique perspective and position of power.
When queried whether he was concerned about the outside perception of the organization, he confidently uttered:
“It’s not something I’m overly thinking about. I want to work somewhere where I feel passionate about and be surrounded with good people. I’m confident with talking with Mr. [Hasso] Plattner, Jonathan [Becher] & Joe [Will], and knowing some of the staff that have been here before, I don’t see any issues with it.
“It’s a place I want to be, and my family wants to be, so it’s not something I put too much thought into.”
Some on the outside, as well as insiders, observed an unceremonious discharging and castigation of the best Black player [Evander Kane] in team history, and a player on their minor league San Jose Barracuda allegedly made a derogatory and racist gesture towards a Black opponent within the same season.
Although Mike is completely comfortable with the atmosphere inside the hockey club, there will undoubtedly be changes in the culture and/or style of play.
“For me, the idea of culture, it’s not words. To me, it’s about investing in people and surrounding yourself with the right ones — people who are passionate about their job, who love their job, and are selfless, team-first people,” Grier said. “That’s what culture means to me, and as general manager, it’s up to me to find those types of players on the ice, and also surround myself with those types of people in our hockey operations department.”
The upcoming 2022-23 NHL season will be special and interesting, to say the least.
However, the Grier Family has a great reputation for getting things done, so Mike expectedly will bring the Sharks back to prominence.
Putting a Stanley Cup banner in the rafters of the “Shark Tank” is not a far-fetched goal for him in his very prominent and new role.
