Thursday the Calgary Flames moved forward into the Stanley Cup finals. The first Black position player will be playing in hockey’s greatest tournament championship. There have been Black Goaltenders in the Stanley Cup before but never wingers, centers, or forwards, Jerome Inginla the Captain of the Flames will lead his team next week against either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Phila. Flyers for the oldest trophy in North America, Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Inginla beat up on the San Jose Sharks last week scoring 10 goals and giving other teammates 7 assist. This has catapulted him into the lead for the Conn Smyth Trophy. This trophy is given to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Finals. So please watch hockey next week for the first time and see the best hockey player in North America Jerome Inglia number # 12.

Last week history was made in Toronto, Canada, home of the Maple Leafs and the Hockey Hall of Fame. Grant Fuhr from Spuce Grove, Alberta, Canada was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 12, 2003. He was voted the 11th best goalie out of 100 by a panel of hockey experts in the hockey meetings in New York City two years ago.

He has won two Vezina Trophies (best goalie for that year) and played goal with the Canada Cup All-Star Team in 1987. Fuhr still holds the record for most points scored by a goalie 14 in one season, most wins in the post season 16, and the single season record for most consecutive appearances 76, how could Grant lose with number 99 on your team?

Grant Fuhr tended net for the run and gun Edmonton Oilers hockey team in their glory days 1981-91. A team that just outscored it's opponent to win. Grant had to be on his game, every game, because the Oilers did not believe in defense. Fuhr was the last stop before the net and he had a very unique style of defending Edmonton's goal. He would slide back as far as his body could go without crossing the goal line. Thus giving goal scorers very little to shot at, the only hole a shooter had was the five hole. For you non-hockey fans that is the opening between the goalie's legs and goal stick. Most butterfly goalies leave this hole open and close it at the last second to stop the puck.

Fuhr has won four Lord Stanley's Cup with "The Great One", Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. He has been in five National Hockey League All-Star Games and has been named on the all stars first team four times.

Grant Fuhr played for 19 years. 10 years with the Super Champion Oilers before moving on to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Grant was suspended for admitting to using drugs in his days in Canada with the Leafs and Oilers. He moved on to play for the Buffalo Sabers taking this team to the playoffs for the first time in many years, then it was off to Saint Louis and the Blues making them a threat in the playoffs again and last the Calgary Flames in 1990-2000.

African Americans should take their hat off to this fine brother. I know I will never forget his kickstyle saves in goal, number 31 has made history

THAT IS THE GRAYLINE!