Ted Nolan becomes the latest to decry racism in hockey.

More and more players of the past and present have begun to speak out against the racism that they have personally faced in the sport of hockey and now former National Hockey League forward turned NHL head coach Ted Nolan has become the latest man to share his frankly horrific experiences. For the very first time, according to Nolan himself, the now 62 year old opened up about the racial abuse he endured during his career, and lamented that it may have cost many young boys the opportunity of a lifetime.

"For every player like myself who managed to play through it, there’s thousands and thousands of kids that don’t because of racism," said Nolan as per The Athletic.

"I heard ‘stinking Indian’ and ‘prairie n—–’ so much of my life in hockey. Did I cry about it? I never told anybody. I’m telling you now. I’ve never told anybody about this before. But with what’s going on … I think we’re losing so many kids (from the game)."

Nolan describes how he was forced to fight constantly to prove himself to his peers, something that he says shattered his perception of who he was as a player and what he could achieve in the NHL.

"I went to Kenora and I thought I was going to be the next Bobby Orr," said Nolan. "All of the sudden reality smashes you in the head. I was just crying and I was miserable. I went from loving the game at the point to just trying to survive in the game. I just tried to survive."

Most of the racial abuse that Nolan described facing came prior to him become a pro, from both players and parents,  however Nolan did cite an instance in which he felt that he had been slighted in the National Hockey League, and that was as a head coach in the league. Following a split with the Sabres in the late 90s Nolan spent a decade on the sideline, something he feels was a product of some of the racially motivated innuendo that had followed his departure there. To his credit though he did not let it stop him.

"I won coach of the year in the National Hockey League and then I’m out for 10 years," said Nolan.

"I got sour at the game for a bit. I said, ‘That’s it, no more."

Nolan hopes to bring more attention to the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada, and no doubt someone of his profile speaking out on this issue is a step in that direction.