John Paris Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Paris Jr. |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2023 | |||
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| Born | August 1, 1946 Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) | ||
John Paris Jr. (born August 1, 1946) is a Canadian ice hockey legend! He was a fantastic player, a smart coach, and a sharp scout. John comes from Windsor, Nova Scotia. He played on many championship teams during his hockey career. He is also a member of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.
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John Paris Jr.'s Amazing Career
His Time as a Hockey Player
From 1962 to 1964, John played for the Windsor Royals junior hockey team. He was so good that several NHL teams invited him to their training camps! In May 1963, a famous scout named Scotty Bowman from the Montreal Canadiens even traveled 17 hours by train to meet John at his home. John then tried out for the Junior Canadiens team. He trained at the famous Montreal Forum.
At just 17 years old, John was very light, weighing only 135 pounds. He also faced a serious health challenge. Because of this, he didn't make the Junior Canadiens team. Instead, he played in the Montreal Metropolitan Junior Hockey League. In the 1966 season, he played with the Junior A Quebec Aces. He played alongside future stars like Guy Lafleur. It was here that he earned the cool nickname "Chocolate Rocket"!
John later joined professional hockey in the 1967–68 season. He played for the Knoxville Knights in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). Sadly, his health issues meant his playing career ended after only nine games.
Coaching and Scouting Success
In the 1970–71 season, John Paris Jr. started coaching younger hockey players. He coached in Sorel, Quebec, with teams like the Sorel Black Hawks.
In the 1986–1987 season, John led his team, the Riverains du Richelieu, to a huge victory! They won the Air Canada Cup, which is the national championship for midget 'AAA' hockey. He was also named coach of the year. This made him the first Black coach in the Midget AAA Major league.
John made history again in 1987. He became the first Black scout in the NHL, working for the St. Louis Blues. He was also the first Black Coach and first Black General Manager in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He worked with teams like the Trois-Rivières Draveurs and the Granby Bisons.
In the 1993–94 season, John joined the Atlanta Knights in the International Hockey League (IHL). This team was connected to the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. His move to Atlanta meant he was the first Black coach in professional hockey! The Knights won the Turner Cup championship with him as coach.
In 1996, John became the Head Coach and General Manager for a new team, the Macon Whoopees. This team was part of the Central Hockey League (CHL). From 2000 to 2003, John worked at the IMG Academy. He was the director of their hockey program. He also helped with the United States Junior Development Program (USJDP) for 19 years.
John's Life Today
John Paris Jr. currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas. He lives there with his wife and daughter.
In February 2023, people started a campaign to get John recognized even more. Hockey Nova Scotia began a petition to have him considered for the Hockey Hall of Fame. They wanted him inducted as a "Builder" for all his amazing contributions to hockey. The campaign used the slogan "Paris to Toronto" on social media.
