Height: 5-9
Weight: 175
Shoot: R
Born: 31 May 1945, Amherst NS
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Regular Season & Playoff Scoring Record (key)
| year | team | |||||||||||
| 1972-73 | New York | |||||||||||
| Los Angeles | ||||||||||||
| Totals (2 teams) | ||||||||||||
| 1973-74 | Los Angeles | |||||||||||
| 1974-75 | Mich.-Balt. | |||||||||||
| Totals: |
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Alton On The Move • by Stan Fischler (c) • New York Raiders 1972-73 Hockey Program
He toured the Catskill Mountain "Borscht Belt" and pounded the pavements in shopping centers from Livingston Mall, New Jersey, to Huntington, Long Island. If you didn't know better you'd think Alton James White was running for president instead of right wing for the New York Raiders. The only black player in the World Hockey Association and only the second in big-league shinny, White spread the WHA gospel, answering questions and made himself very much a part of the local scene. "I was surprised by the whole experience," White said. "Here I was, just out of Providence in the American League, and people came up to me knowing who I was right off the bat. Of course, wearing the Raiders jersey didn't hurt." Because there are so few blacks in Canada, only a handful have made it up the organized hockey ladder, During the late 40s, an all-black line comprised of the brothers Ossie and Herbie Carnegie and Manny McIntyre dominated the powerful Quebec Senior Hockey League skating for Sherbrooke. Both Art Dorrington and Alf Lewsey stickhandled in the minor pro leagues but only Willie O'Ree climbed all the way to the National Hockey League playing for Boston in the 1960-61 season. A year later O'Ree was shunted to the minors. Now it's Alton White's turn at the top. "I have no doubts that I can hold my own with anybody," said White. "I've got a lot of confidence in myself. During the summer I spent a lot of time with the coach (Camille Henry). He expects me to be quick and aggressive and go into the corners. Sure the competition will be tough but I expect to rise to the call." Inevitably, White has been assailed by questions regarding his skin color. Has he been the victim of prejudice? Have enemy skaters singled him out as the target because he is black? Does he think of himself as a latter-day Jackie Robinson? Unfortunately for story-thirsty newsmen, the answer inevitably is the negative. "You might as well face the facts," said White. "And the fact is that I have I have not had any more trouble than any white hockey player. Some fans have needled me sure, but what hockey player hasn't been needled? And the barbs have been typical and not because of my color." During a visit to the Branch Brook Park Rink in Newark, White encountered some young black skaters. "They impressed me with their ability," he said. "A few of the boys had gone to hockey schools in Canada and came home quite accomplished for their ages." More and more young blacks are taking to hockey in the metropolitan area. A regular ice hockey program is conducted at Central Park Rink near 110th Street and 5th Avenue in Harlem and street hockey programs have become part of the curricula in places such as The Cathedral School in Manhattan where Michael Lockett, a black gym instructor, has more teams than he can handle. Newark also has a program. These young fans are part of the audience to which the Raiders are addressing themselves. They'll come too, particularly if the WHA sextet is a winner. "We've got a solid club," said White. "The goaltending is good and that may turn out to be the key to our success in the long run." Then again Alton James White might help turn that key. He waited many years for this chance and for a time thought he'd be buried in Providence where he played for four seasons without getting the big league call. "It was nice and comfortable playing there," he recalled. "The fans were and the living was good. But I've never had second thoughts about the move I made to New York. I was never more anxious about making good in anything in my life than I am now with the Raiders." |
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