JAMES GRATEFUL FOR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Jan 31, 2023

By Suzie Cool

 

“It should’ve been a lot sooner,” said former Rochester Americans centerman and Hall of Famer Scott Metcalfe during the 2023 induction ceremony last Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena.

 

The “it”, of course, that Metcalfe was referring to was the highly anticipated induction of the 66^th member of the prestigious club in former Amerks forward Val James.

 

“This is an unbelievable honor, and it means a lot to me after playing here in Rochester and winning a Calder Cup and how accepting the fans were of me at the time. This is just unbelievable. This is a pleasure, as a pleasure should be,” commented James when asked what the induction into the Amerks Hall of Fame meant to him.

 

 

Now, we agree with Metcalfe and we’d be remiss if we didn’t admit that James’ induction had been a long time coming. Especially with all that the now 65-year-old did in his time in Rochester and for the landscape of hockey in general.

 

While James was deservingly honored for the recognition, its also important to remember that we should be grateful for the five memorable seasons we did have with the tenacious enforcer and all-around fan favorite during his time in the Flower City.

 

After a brief three-game stint with the Amerks in 1980-81, James remained in Rochester for the next four seasons, leading the team to a playoff appearance each year and culminating with a Calder Cup championship in 1983. James’ biggest on-ice contribution came that year when he scored the game-winning goal in the deciding game of the Calder Cup Finals against the Maine Mariners, earning Rochester its first of two Calder Cups in a four-year span during the 1980s.

 

 

Additionally, James went on to make some history in the Flower City.

 

James was the first American-born black player in Amerks history, appearing in 253 games with Rochester from 1980-81 to 1984-85. While James was a fan favorite over his five-year tenure with the club, the forward went on to collect 24 points on 10 goals and 14 assists while racking up 496 penalty minutes during his Amerks career.

 

“It was great,” started James when asked what it was like to be so accepted in Rochester. “We had the racial scene going on, too, at that time. So that was a big hurdle for me to try and get over as well as keep my game going. So, to come back home (Rochester) and be accepted like that, it was just wonderful.”

 

 

It was also during his time with the Amerks that James made a substantial impact on the game of hockey in general. James became the first African American player in the NHL when he took to the ice with the Buffalo Sabres in 1982. Then, again, in 1987 James once again made history as the first black player of any nationality to skate for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

Sadly, though, while James was popular for his tough play and winning personality, the former Amerks forward was a regular target of racial taunts by opposing teams and on the road while at other arenas throughout the entirety of his prolific career.

 

“I had to go to the league at least once and fight at least one guy on each team just for the racial incidents and the racial calling in that…but once that got done and guys actually looked at me for a hockey player, things changed dramatically,” explained James when talking about how times have drastically changed since his playing days.

 

 

All the fights that James endured, both on and off the ice, were worth it simply because of this:

 

As of Dec. 27, 2022, there are currently 23 black NHL players, down from 25 during the 2021-22 campaign, but up from 20 during the condensed 2020-21 season. The highest number of black NHL players was during 2005-06 when there were 34 total.

 

Whether James realizes it or not, every day that he put up a fight was another chance and another opportunity for someone NOW to live out their dream, including his own of James becoming the first person of color inducted in the Amerks prestigious club.

 

 

“No, I never even thought of it until they actually called me and let me know that was happening. I'm just ecstatic,” finished James when asked if he ever thought in his professional career if he’d one day be inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame.