By Ike Everard

When Lennie Childs was thrown into the middle of an ice-hockey camp at five years old in Maryland, he had no idea it would spark a lifelong love affair with the sport to which he’s dedicated the last two decades of his life. Now, Childs has climbed the ladder to become one of the first Black coaches in NCAA hockey in his role as an Assistant with Union College.

Being a trailblazer in the sport isn’t new to Childs. Growing up, he was one of a handful of Black hockey players in his league. He recalls the moment he got his first Black teammate as a teenager, which marked a major milestone.

“That was pretty cool,” Childs said. “There were actually three of us on the team at that time, but we were still the only team with any Black players.”

That lack of diversity was present in the sport’s upper levels as well, with scouting departments and front offices tending to mirror the teams they managed. 

“I used to walk into a rink even five years ago when I would be scouting a game and there'd be one Black scout every four games.” Childs said. “Now, it seems like there's at least two on the ice at all times.”

The push to bring hockey to communities and cultures where it hasn’t historically been as prevalent has come from the top. Childs praised USA Hockey and the NHL’s work in creating opportunities and spreading the game.

“More kids are jumping on the ice through learn to skate programs and open ice time,” Childs said. It used to be that people wouldn’t even know those things existed if they weren't from hockey hotbed like Minnesota.”

Their efforts have resulted in a major uptick in Black players from the roots level of hockey and into the NHL, where they made up 9.4% of the league in 2022. New faces are entering the league as well. The Seattle Kraken recently selected their first Black player in franchise history during the 2023 NHL Draft, picking Zaccharya Wisdom in the seventh round.

Childs was able to work with Wisdom at the Kraken’s draft pick training camp, where he was a special guest coach through a mentorship program with the NHL Coaches Association. Through that program, Childs was able to connect with higher-ups in the Kraken organization and get connected to a new network of hockey personnel.

“It was kind of a longer, in-depth process which I actually really appreciated versus like, ‘Hey, you're Black, I want you to come by camp’,” Childs said. “I thought they did a phenomenal job.”

The Kraken staff also benefited from Childs’ experience and energy. 

“Our staff was happy to welcome Lennie to our coaching group during our development camp this summer,” said Seattle Kraken Head Coach Dave Hakstol. “He’s a dedicated young coach who added energy and knowledge to our team that week. It was a great experience for all of us and provided an opportunity for Lennie to spend some time in an NHL environment.”

The camp wasn’t the start of Childs and Wisdom’s connection, though. Childs said he coached against Wisdom two years prior, and was excited to be on the same side of the ice this time around. He said their conversations focused on hockey, and that he was impressed by Wisdom’s drive and passion for the game.

“It was a mutual respect. I also love that it felt super normalized. It didn't need to be publicized. We didn't need to have the big picture during the game.” Childs said. “Meeting him later on, and obviously being with him at the camp was pretty cool. I loved just seeing him grow. He’s an unbelievable kid.”

That feeling of normalcy is getting to be more commonplace within the sport as it continues to grow in popularity and accessibility across the country. It’s a trend Childs sees continuing, and one he is ready to support.

“I think what the NHL is doing is awesome from the standpoint of just getting the word out there and making it more common,” Childs said. “Minorities have historically been like, ‘Oh, hockey. What is hockey? You play hockey? What does that mean?’ And now it's starting to become more mainstream.”

It’s that foundation of growth that inspires the most hope in Childs. He’s watched for years as the sport has developed and grown, and he knows that the wave is coming.

“It really starts in the ice rinks when they're young. That makes them better so they want to play college hockey, and then they play their careers there, then maybe they're lucky enough to play pro, and then they can turn to be a coach,” Childs said. “It's a 20 year process that I think we're on a good track for. I just want everyone to know that it is coming.”

Currently, Childs is getting ready to start another season with Union College while he and his wife are also preparing for the arrival of his second child. Wisdom will play once again for Colorado College, where he is expected to finish out his collegiate career before reporting to the Kraken.