The North American professional ice hockey league NHL has the first black club boss in its 105-year history. As the San Jose Sharks announced on Tuesday, 47-year-old ex-pro Mike Grier has been appointed general manager of the California franchise.
Grier was a consultant for league rivals New York Rangers last season. He assisted the Rangers with hockey-related decisions, as well as player and youth development off the ice.
As an active player, Grier played in the NHL between 1996 and 2011 and completed 1161 matches in the strongest ice hockey league in the world. From 2006 to 2009, Grier was active for the Sharks, who are currently the only NHL team without a head coach for the upcoming season.
Grier’s older brother Chris (52) has been general manager of the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL) since January.