Utendale named to Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Former WWU professor to be inducted posthumously in mid-July
 

 
Dr. John Utendale, a former professor and Faculty Athletic Representative at Western Washington University, will be inducted posthumously with the Class of 2023 into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.
 
The ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, July 16, at the AHHF Induction Gala at the Coast Hotel in Canmore, Alberta.
 
The AHHF Class of 2023 was selected based on its outstanding achievements, dedication and commitment to building hockey in Alberta in all aspects of the game.
 
"Once again, we have the opportunity to celebrate the rich hockey history in this great province," said Al Coates, Chairman of the AHHF Committee. "It's another outstanding class of inductees with an extensive list of achievements that reflect in the game today."
 
Being inducted with Utendale are Charlie Huddy, Tim Hunter, Earl Ingarfield Sr., Karen Kost, Bobby Olynyk and the Edmonton Chimos, the teams comprising a decade of excellence (1983-1993) in women's hockey.
 
Utendale, who was inducted into the WWU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022, was the first Black hockey player to sign a National Hockey League contract. While he never played in the NHL, he is considered a trailblazer in the game both in Canada and the United States.
 
Utendale was the first Black member of the U.S. national men's team coaching staff, assisting with the "Miracle on Ice" Olympic champions in 1980 at Lake Placid, New York.
 
- WWU - 
 
 
Utendale was an elite player and hockey activist as a part of a groundbreaking career in sport and higher education.
 
In 1955, Utendale became the first Black hockey player to sign an NHL contract. He never played for the Detroit Red Wings, but that was the time of just the six original teams and signing a contract meant that you were an exceptional player.
 
In 1972, Utendale became the first Black faculty member in Western's School of Education. He led the university's Student Personnel Administration graduate program for more than 25 years. His program was one of the first that intensely recruited and dramatically increased the number of minority students at now Woodring College of Education.
 
Utendale, who retired from Western in 2001, was the school's Faculty Athletic Representative for 11 years (1985-96). During that time, he served a two-year term as chair of the NAIA Council of FARs.
 
As a FAR, Utendale was the school President's liaison with athletics and as chair of the national FAR council, he was an ex-officio member of the Council of Presidents, the main NAIA governing body. A school's FAR, who cannot be a member of the athletic department, does the final certification of athletic eligibility for its student-athletes.
 
Utendale was nationally recognized for his academic work by his peers and moved into full professorship at Western. His distinguished career with WWU included many posts, among them president of the State Higher Education Personnel Board, chair of the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations, director of the Seattle Urban Centre, program chair of Human Resources Development and president of the Northwest Association of Student Affairs Professionals.
 
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Utendale, is a graduate of Victoria Composite High School. He received a teaching certificate from the University of British Columbia in 1961, returned to Edmonton and earned his bachelor's degree in just two years (1965) at the University of Alberta.
 
Utendale obtained his master's degree (1968) at Eastern Washington University and was hired at Washington State University. During his three-year tenure (1969-72), he was assistant dean of students, academic coordinator for the athletic department, a member of the Washington State Human Rights commission, and taught a course in the Black studies department, all while completing work on his Doctorate in Education degree (1972).
 
From WSU, Utendale moved to Western, and he remained in Bellingham until his death in 2006 following a battle with cancer.
 
The love of Utendale's life, besides education, was ice hockey, which was interwoven throughout as a player and coach.
 
The NHL contract that Utendale signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 1955 came three years before Willie O'Ree broke the NHL's color barrier in 1958 with the Boston Bruins. Utendale attended three or four camps, but he never played for the Red Wings, instead seeing action for three seasons with a Wings' farm team, the Edmonton Flyers.
 
Utendale moved east for a couple years and played for four teams. He eventually returned to western Canada, married Maryan "Mickey" Maddison Leonard in 1959, and starting his university education.
 
His on-ice career ended in 1969. Had his story ended then, Utendale would already have established himself as a significant figure in the history of the sport of hockey.
 
With the conclusion of his playing career, Utendale's focus shifted to what would be a long and influential career in post-secondary education.
 
But during his time as an educator, hockey continued to play a significant role in Utendale's life. He helped found the Bellingham Area Minor Hockey Association and the city's junior A team, the Bellingham Blazers, which he also coached; and served as Western Regional Director for the Amateur Hockey Association of the U.S.
 
He coached the WWU club team for nine years, winning four straight Western United States Collegiate Club championships from 1982-85.
 
 
In 1980, Utendale was also an assistant training coach with the U.S. Olympic team, becoming the first Black member of the coaching staff of the national men's hockey team. That group upset a formidable Russian squad in the semifinal round and won gold at the "Miracle on Ice" Lake Placid, New York, Olympics.
 
On January 28, 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed a House Bill honoring Utendale for his lifetime of barrier-breaking contributions as an athlete, educator and civil rights trailblazer.
 
"My dad used to say there is nothing greater than a good education," said his son Robb. "Beyond that he was fully engaged in establishing racial tolerance and taking on diversity issues.