Special Contributor // Jon Marshall
The first of a two-part series
A surprisingly few hundred fans sporting red, white and blue gear fill up the ice box that is Kettler Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia on a balmy July morning in Washington, D.C. They are catching a glimpse of future Washington Capitals at the team’s annual rookie development camp.
Hockey purists discuss the intricacies of the game. Wide-eyed boys watch, hoping to be in these player’s skates one day. Teenage girls giggle at the sight of real life hockey professionals. On the ice, players show off their puck handling and maneuver through cones designed to test their mobility on slippery conditions. A player’s tooth gets knocked out just minutes into practice. It’s business as usual.
But you do notice one thing. Over in the corner of the ice, Cameron Burt listens attentively to orders. The unassuming Burt is easily the Jack out of the 6-4 beanstalks. Regardless, he shows that he belongs, moving along the ice with grace and lighting speed. He’s easily the fastest on the ice. He’s also an African American.
As much as some may try to ignore, you can’t help but notice.
“He’s got to be a good skater to be out there,” says Bruce Parker (Capitals season ticket holder for 26 seasons), noticeably careful with his words. “I don’t know if they (Capitals) single anybody out. If they’re good hockey players, I enjoy watching them.”
Back in 1958, Willie O’Ree became the NHL’s first black player, suiting up for the Boston Bruins. It would be 25 years later until there would be another. There are currently 29 black players in the NHL, with a total of around 70 all-time. It has to be said that most of these players grew up in Canada, which has a storied hockey tradition.
Two of the biggest names are Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Grant Fuhr. Fuhr was a fixture at goaltender in the 80s and 90s. He was a part of the Edmonton Oilers team that captured four Stanley Cups from 1983 to 1988. Fuhr won 400 games in 19 seasons and is the only black player in the NHL Hall of Fame.
How does an African American decide to go against the norm and play hockey? Is there any negative backlash? What happens when a kid from the inner city makes it? This is the story of Cameron Burt.
Going against the grain
Cam has a tattoo on his left shoulder. The artwork boasts a classic English style D underneath a crown. The lettering says “king of my city”. His city is Detroit.
“Just something about my hometown,” Burt says referring to the tattoo.” I love where I grew up. I would never change a thing about it. I love going back and seeing all my friends. I wanted to have something with me forever just to remember where I came from.”
Burt grew up in the northwest side of Detroit. He says it’s a relatively rough part of town in a city that takes pride in its toughness. The kind of toughness a kid needs in hockey.
“My neighborhood made me a pretty feisty and tough kid,” says Burt reflecting on his upbringing. “You kind of had to hold your own there and you couldn’t back down from any challenges. So I guess that helped me out with the physical nature of the sport. I don’t really shy away from anything. I know injuries come along with the sport but you gotta lay it on the line. I have to show that I can hold my own out there with the bigger guys.”
The genesis of Burt’s ice dreams started at age 5. The impressionable boy was convinced after watching the Detroit Red Wings. Most kids in the neighborhood wanted to be like Mike. Burt wanted to be like Sergei (Fedorov). Fedorov’s long flowing hair and white skates captivated the youngster.
He was immediately signed up to play in the Detroit Hockey Association, catered to minority youth at the Jack Adams Ice Rink in Burt’s northwest neighborhood. He honed his skills even more playing street hockey.
Las Vegas, Florida and New York. These are among the top spots most city athletes venture off to for AAU basketball tournaments. Burt was taking his game to Toronto every other weekend with club teams. Along for the ride was a supportive family. Some sports do pose a larger financial burden, hockey not excluded. His parents found a way though, often times buying used equipment.
“Coming up I wasn’t in the wealthiest family,” Burt says. “My mom was a teacher. My dad is a skills tradesman at General Motors. We lived pretty comfortably. My parents did what they had to do to fund my expenses for hockey. It’s definitely an expensive sport. The skates that I bought were no more than a pair of Jordans.”
As he matured, Burt began to experience side eyed looks when he entered the rink. This after he joined a travel team in suburban Gross Point. What was once used as a mental motivation is merely an afterthought today.
“Growing up you definitely hear it but I mean you hear that in anything so I don’t let that affect me at all,” Burt says. “There is stuff like that in anything you do not just hockey so I let it roll off my back. It’s fueled my fire for a while. I don’t see the race thing at all. I go out and see myself as another player and just trying to make a name for myself.”
Burt brings the hurt
The camp has reached its midway point. Today is the first session of intra-squad scrimmages. Sloppy play takes a back seat to physical play. A couple fights erupt. It’s all in a day’s work.
Burt loves it.
“I like playing the body,” he says. I like throwing checks. “I mean a lot of guys probably don’t see it coming from me because I’m not the biggest guy but I just love to do it. That’s one of my favorite parts of the game. It’s more of a mental thing for me. I know I’m gonna get hit. I know how to take hits. It’s part of the game.” The more you shy away from it, the more the injuries come.”
Physical play is a favorite pastime for the 5-10, 170 (maybe) Burt. His tenacity is the kind that explains how he endured three years in the junior hockey ranks after graduating from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 2005. Playing for the New England Huskies for two years, Burt was an All-Eastern Junior Hockey League all-star. In 2008, he would soon get his big break after suiting up for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League.
The Rochester Institute of Technology offered a scholarship. Burt’s dream of Division I hockey was finally realized. He was one step closer to the ultimate dream.
In his first collegiate season, Burt netted 13 goals and 17 assists (30 points), one of the best among freshmen. The following year in 2010, his hockey journey came full circle. He had a career year, pacing RIT with 16 goals and 31 assists and tied a division 1 mark with 5 points on goal and 4 assists in one game. The climax of it all was reaching the Frozen Four for the first time in program history. The game was held at Ford Field in Detroit.
“The Frozen Four was surreal,” says a reflective Burt. “I really couldn’t explain the feelings I had going back home. My grandmother got to see me play. She hadn’t seen me play since I was 10-years old. That brought tears to my eyes. “
The Tigers lost to mighty Wisconsin 8-1. Still, the journey from the Jack Adams rink to Ford Field is one Burt cherishes. He says he couldn’t have done it at a better school. A school that embraces him.
“I love it,” he says.” It’s a great program. I couldn’t ask for anything better from the coaching staff to the supporting community from the school. All the resources we have there educationally, it’s a dream come true for me. I always wanted to play Division I hockey. We sell out all our home games. We have some of the best fans in the country.”
Burt still has a year of college eligibility left. A marketing major with a minor in economics, he plans on going back to RIT for his degree (wants to get his masters as well) and one final championship run.
“Education is big for my family” says Burt. “That’s something that is really huge to me. I know hockey is not forever so I’m going to need to do something afterward. God willing I stay healthy, but I could go out tomorrow and blow my knee out.”
Make no mistake Burt will stop at nothing to reach the NHL. From Detroit, upstate New York and now Washington, D.C., he’s here to complete a life long journey many figure would not, should not and can’t happen.
Leave a Reply