Bernie Saunders facts for kids

Bernie Saunders, born on June 21, 1956, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a right winger. Bernie played 10 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Quebec Nordiques during the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons.

Bernie Saunders was a trailblazer in hockey. He was the fifth Black hockey player to ever play in the NHL. The players who came before him were Willie O'Ree, Mike Marson, Bill Riley, and Tony McKegney.

Growing Up and Early Hockey Days

Where Bernie Saunders Grew Up

Bernie Saunders was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. When he was a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Later, as a teenager, he moved back to Quebec. He spent most of his high school years at H.S. Billings High School in Châteauguay, Quebec.

First Experiences with Racism in Hockey

During his senior year of high school, Bernie's family moved back to the Toronto area. He graduated from Ajax High School in Ajax, Ontario. It was during this time, while playing junior hockey in Ontario, that Bernie first faced racism on the ice.

College Hockey Career

Playing Junior Hockey in Quebec and Ontario

While living in Châteauguay, Bernie and his brother John played Jr B hockey. They played for the Châteauguay Wings. Their coach was Jacques Demers, who later became a coach in the WHA and NHL.

When his family moved to the Toronto area, Bernie played for the Pickering Panthers. He played in the Metro Jr B league for two years. The Panthers were a strong team, and many players went on to play college hockey.

Bernie's Time at Western Michigan University

Both Bernie and his brother John played college hockey at Western Michigan University in the 1970s. They played alongside Neil Smith, who later became a general manager for the New York Rangers.

Bernie had a great college career at Western Michigan University. He scored 76 goals and made 78 assists, totaling 154 points in four seasons. He led his team in goals three times. He was also named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice. In his final year, he was the captain of the team.

Honors and Recognition

In 1994, Bernie Saunders was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Western Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame. There is also a special banner honoring him at Lawson Arena. This is the home rink for Western Michigan University hockey.

Professional Hockey Career

Starting in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques

After college, Bernie Saunders signed with the Quebec Nordiques. This was the Nordiques' first year in the NHL. They had just joined from the WHA league, which had closed down.

In his first professional year, Bernie played in the minor leagues. He started with the Cincinnati Stingers in the Central Hockey League (CHL). He scored 13 goals and 11 assists in 29 games. The Stingers team stopped playing halfway through that season.

Moving to Other Minor League Teams

After the Stingers folded, Bernie was sent to the Syracuse Firebirds in the American Hockey League (AHL). He finished his first professional year there. He scored 23 goals and 17 assists in the AHL. Overall, in his first year in the minor leagues, he had 36 goals and 28 assists in 67 games. Bernie also played 4 games with the Nordiques at the end of that year.

Second Professional Season and Beyond

In his second year, the Nordiques did not have their own minor league team. So, Bernie was loaned to the Montreal Canadiens organization. He played for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs in the AHL. That year, he scored 17 goals and 21 assists for the Voyageurs. He also played 6 games with the Nordiques, where he got one assist.

Later, Bernie played for the Kalamazoo Wings in the IHL. He scored 38 goals and 37 assists in 70 games during his final year of playing.

Speaking Out Against Racism

Many years later, in 2021, Bernie Saunders wrote a book. He was upset by the racist murder of George Floyd. He also saw that Black hockey players still faced racism in the NHL and the media. His book is called Shut Out: The Game That Did Not Love Me Black. In it, he shares his own experiences with racism in hockey.

Life After Hockey

Family and Career Outside of Sports

Bernie Saunders' brother was the well-known ESPN sportscaster, John Saunders. After his hockey career, Bernie used his college degree. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 17 years with the Upjohn Company. He then held other business jobs in that industry.

Bernie has three sons: Jonathan, Shawn, and Andrew. Jonathan played defense for the Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey team. Shawn played four years at UMass. Andrew chose a career in law enforcement while attending East Carolina University. Bernie is now retired. He lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Awards and Honours

Bernie Saunders received an important award during his college career. He was named to the All-CCHA Second Team in the 1977–78 season.