My Hockey Hero

Ottawa 67’s defenseman Kohyn Eshkawkogan joins the My Hockey Hero podcast to discuss his hockey journey, Indigenous identity, and ambitions in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Growing up in Little Current on Manitoulin Island and belonging to the M'Chigeeng First Nation, Cohen shares how his family, community, and early years on the ice shaped him as a player and person.

Cohen reflects on Truth and Reconciliation Day, his great-grandmother’s experience as a residential school survivor, and the importance of learning, understanding, and acceptance. He also talks about bringing his Ottawa 67’s teammates to Manitoulin Island to learn about Indigenous culture through community visits, a sweat lodge ceremony, smudging, archery, and teachings about eagle staffs.

Hear about Cohen’s development from minor hockey and the Manitoulin Panthers to the Nickel City Suns, the Hill Academy, and the Ottawa 67’s. He discusses becoming a two-way defenseman, being drafted by Ottawa, representing Team Ontario at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, winning gold, and competing for Team Canada at the U17 and U18 levels.

Cohen also shares his focus on helping the Ottawa 67’s pursue the Memorial Cup, his education plans at Penn State, the players who inspired him—including Jonathan Toews, Cale Makar, and Bobby Orr—and his advice to young hockey players: work hard, enjoy the game, don’t take opportunities for granted, and ask for help.

Born in Halifax and adopted into a white family in Sarnia, Ontario, Mike McKegney grew up on a backyard rink that helped shape three high-level players: Mike, his older brother Ian (who reached the NHL with Chicago), and his younger brother Tony (who starred in the NHL with Buffalo, St. Louis, and Quebec).

In this candid conversation, Mike reflects on his adoption journey, growing up as a Black player in 1960s–70s Canadian hockey, and becoming the first Black player ever signed by the Montreal Canadiens. He shares stories from Sarnia minor hockey, the Kitchener Rangers, pro stops in Nova Scotia, the NAHL, San Francisco, and Switzerland, and what it was like to skate alongside legends in Montreal’s system.

Mike also opens up about his experience with hockey's drinking culture in the 1970s, his own struggle with addiction, and how it derailed his NHL ambitions, and the 26 years of sobriety that transform his life. With honesty and humility, he looks back on what might have been, what he’s learned, and why he’s ultimately grateful, for his family, his career, and his life now in Belize.

On this episode of My Hockey Hero, we celebrate the journey of Hayden Paupanekis, a six-foot-five center from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba and draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens (2025 NHL Draft, 4th round, 69th overall). Hayden reflects on learning to skate at five in Winnipeg’s minor hockey system, the support of his family and community, and the pride he takes in being a role model for Indigenous youth.

He shares what it was like to be drafted into the WHL by the Spokane Chiefs, the challenges of moving away from home, the impact of his billet family, and adjusting to the business side of junior hockey. Hayden also talks about his offseason training, his experience at the NHL combine in Buffalo, the feedback from Montreal, and his transition to the Kelowna Rockets as they chase the Memorial Cup. We wrap up with rapid-fire questions on his role models, pregame rituals, and advice for young players about hard work and having a growth mindset.

blackhockeycards.com 

 In this episode of My Hockey Hero, host Dean Barnes sits down with Alex Huang, star defenceman for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL and 2025 draft pick of the Nashville Predators. Alex shares his journey as the son of Chinese immigrants growing up in a diverse Montreal suburb, his early love for hockey (starting on orange juice caps), and how the pandemic became a turning point in his development. He reflects on being an offensive defenceman, a trilingual student-athlete with Harvard on the horizon, and a role model for Asian and other racialized kids in hockey. Alex also talks about his team’s Memorial Cup aspirations, the demands of major junior hockey, and offers powerful advice to young players about self-belief, hard work, and carving their own path to the next level.  blackhockeycards.com 

Born and raised in the Cayman Islands, Jaxon Cover took one of the most unconventional paths to major junior hockey. In this episode of My Hockey Hero, Jackson joins Dean to share how roller hockey on a Caribbean island led him all the way to the London Knights and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

Jaxon reflects on:

• Discovering roller hockey at age three and representing the Cayman Islands in travel tournaments across the U.S.
• Moving to Canada at 12, learning ice hockey from scratch at St. Andrew’s College, and his first tryouts with the Aurora Tigers.
• The coaching and mentorship that propelled him to the U16 York Simcoe team and ultimately being drafted in the 4th round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.
• His first games and first hat trick in the OHL, the challenge of adapting to the size, speed, and physicality of the CHL, and the importance of teammates and mentors like Ben Wilmot.
• How idols like Sidney Crosby and rising NHL star Macklin Celebrini inspire his work ethic, mindset, and goals for the future.

Jaxon also shares his pregame routines, the mental side of dealing with slumps, and offers heartfelt advice for young players chasing big dreams from unlikely places.

blackhockeycards.com

In this special Black History Month edition of My Hockey Hero, host Dean Barnes sits down with trailblazer John Parris Jr., player, coach, scout, and general manager, to explore what it truly costs to break barriers in hockey and hold the door open for others.

From frozen ponds in rural Windsor, Nova Scotia, to signing with the Montreal Canadiens organization, John reflects on race, resilience, community, and the human connections that shaped his journey through one of the toughest sports in the world.

John Parris Jr. grew up as the only Black family in his town, learning to skate on outdoor ponds and frozen pits before he could comfortably walk. Supported by local community members and his sports-loving father, he rose quickly through youth hockey, often playing above his age group and being named MVP everywhere he went.

John situates his story within a deeper legacy: the Coloured Hockey League and the tightly knit Black communities of Nova Scotia, where hockey was both resistance and self-determination. Rather than waiting for inclusion, Black players formed their own leagues and teams, proving they did not need outside permission to belong in the game.

As he moved into elite levels of hockey, John experienced both the demands of high performance and the importance of solidarity among teammates who protected and supported him on and off the ice. A formative moment came when legendary coach and scout Scotty Bowman visited his family home, offering a clear-eyed, honest conversation about adversity, integrity, and the social realities surrounding the sport.

Despite his talent, John’s playing career was derailed by serious health issues that he initially hid out of fear it would end his opportunities. John Parris Jr. went on to become the first Black elite hockey coach, breaking barriers behind the bench and proving that leadership at the highest levels of the game could look different, and open doors for those who followed.

Throughout the episode, John emphasizes family, community, character, and the idea that once you’ve reached a certain level in sport, you become part of a lifelong family, one that transcends backgrounds and rivalries.

blackhockeycards.com

Meet Bill Zonnan, the high-octane forward whose relentless drive and inspiring journey are lighting up the hockey world. Growing up in Montreal, Bill overcame setbacks, made his mark in the QMJHL, and has now been drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Off the ice, his story is just as powerful, breaking barriers, building community, and inspiring the next generation. Tune in for an inside look at the passion, resilience, and excitement fuelling Bill’s path to the NHL!

For CHL new and tickets visit chl.ca

To learn more on how you can help make hockey accessible to all, check out hockeyequality.org

The see the Black Hockey card collection and learn more go to www.blackhockeycards.com

Produced by Podstarter

Jaeden Nelson shares his inspiring journey from a young hockey enthusiast to a promising junior hockey goaltender. Born to Ghanaian immigrant parents in Ottawa, he discovered his passion for goaltending early, inspired by Marc-Andre Fleury.

Notable Moments:

• First drafted by hometown Ottawa 67's

• Transitioned from affiliate goalie to full-time player

• Discusses challenges of living away from home at 15

• Reflects on diversity and representation in hockey

Advice for Young Athletes:

• Let passion drive your goals

• Stay committed and enjoy the process

• Seek inspiration from role models who look like you

Memorable Quote:

Recommended for:

• Hockey fans

• Aspiring young athletes

• Those interested in diversity in sports

For CHL new and tickets visit chl.ca

To learn more on how you can help make hockey accessible to all, check out hockeyequality.org

The see the Black Hockey card collection and learn more go to www.blackhockeycards.com

Produced by Podstarter

For CHL new and tickets visit chl.ca

To learn more on how you can help make hockey accessible to all, check out hockeyequality.org

The see the Black Hockey card collection and learn more go to www.blackhockeycards.com

Produced by Podstarter

In this episode, we're diving deep into the life and journey of a rising CHL goalie who's seen it allfrom being part of rebuilding teams to playoff runs that captivated entire communities. We're talking about the grind, the growth, and the grit it takes to compete at such a high level, with Nicolas Ruccia

Our Nicolas shares his unique experiences navigating the challenges of junior hockey, including playing in one of the toughest divisions, the camaraderie of tight-knit teams, and the thrill of hosting playoff games that brought fans to their feet.

For CHL new and tickets visit chl.ca

To learn more on how you can help make hockey accessible to all, check out hockeyequality.org

The see the Black Hockey card collection and learn more go to www.blackhockeycards.com

Produced by Podstarter