LeBron James, Drake, and businessman Maverick Carter will executive produce a documentary about racism in the sport of hockey.
“Black Ice” will explore the longstanding discrimination against Black hockey players dating back to the Colored Hockey League, which operated from 1895 to 1930 in Maritimes, Canada. Viewers will get a glimpse into how prejudice has not entirely ceased in the sport but evolved over time.
Black hockey players Zayde Wisdom and Wayne Simmonds will be featured in the documentary, detailing their experience as part of the sports small group of minorities.
Hubert Davis, the director behind the film, says that he was inspired by the stories of hockey’s Black pioneers.
“I think it is more important than ever before for all generations, particularly young people of color, to understand and see the diverse faces who have contributed and shaped one the essential fabrics of our country,” Davis said in a statement.
“Black Ice” was created under Uninterrupted Canada in collaboration with Drake and the SpringHill Company, which James and Carter founded.
As of now, there is no official release date for the doc, but Canadian broadcaster Bell Media has confirmed that it will release “Black Ice” on its TSN, Crave, and CTV platforms, with Elevation Pictures set to debut it in theaters. A U.S. distribution deal has not yet been revealed but is in the works.
