Breaking: One of the NHL's most important pioneers has passed away.

A sad day for the sport of hockey.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Breaking: One of the NHL's most important pioneers has passed away.

An important part of the National Hockey League's history is no more. 

According to a report from the Atlantic City Press, former National Hockey League pioneer Art Dorington has passed away over the holidays, he was 87 years of age.

While Dorington may not be a household name to modern fans, after all he never actually played in the NHL due to suffering a severely broken leg, but he will go down in history as the NHL's version of Jackie Robinson.

In a time where racial tensions were at an all-time high in North America Dorington became the first black man to ever sign an NHL contract when he was picked up by the New York Rangers organization, although unfortunately his injury prevented him for ever lacing up his skates for the Rangers.

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Despite that Dorington, a native of Nova Scotia, continued to be a great ambassador for the sport of hockey when he settled down in Atlantic City. That was where he had his largest impact stetting up programs to help at risk youths get off the street and onto the playing surface in the hopes of helping them achieve a better life. 

Atlantic City would go on to name both a rink and even a day entirely in his honor, and his great contribution to the sport of hockey will continue to live on long after he is gone. 

Our condolences go out to the Dorington family.

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