© New York Rangers

William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog since 2012. Douglas joined NHL.com in 2019 and writes about people of color in the sport. Today, he profiles New York Rangers prospect EJ Emery and his decision to play for the University of North Dakota, becoming its first Black player in more than three decades.

When EJ Emery talks about his decision to play for the University of North Dakota and become its first Black player in more than 30 years, the word “comfortable” comes up often.

“I just felt comfortable there,” the 18-year-old defenseman said June 28 after being selected by the New York Rangers with the No. 30 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft at Sphere in Las Vegas. “The coaches and the fans, and obviously the team, made me feel at home and I know they’re going to look out for me.”

Maybe the sense of comfort stems from the special connection between the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where Emery has been involved for the past two seasons, and the university located in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The beginning of this story traces back to Eric Emery, his father.

The elder Emery, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, was raised in Compton, California. He pursued football at California State University, Fullerton, where he played from 1982 to 1984 under the guidance of coach Gene Murphy.

© University of North Dakota Athletics

From 1960-62, Murphy was the quarterback for North Dakota and later became its coach from 1978-79. His impact on Eric Emery was significant, particularly after the undefeated season of Cal Fullerton in 1984. Sadly, Murphy passed away on October 29, 2011, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

“The admiration I held for Gene Murphy and his contributions to our team at Cal Fullerton somehow transferred into EJ,” expressed the older Emery, reflecting on his time as a linebacker for the BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders, and Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League between 1985-87.

“He united us and confidently declared that we had the potential to become champions, as he recognized our abilities. I insisted that EJ visit North Dakota, as Gene and many of the skilled coaches he recruited hailed from there. Their exceptional qualities led me to believe that North Dakota must possess something remarkable.”

The younger Emery also shares a North Dakota connection with NTDP coach Nick Fohr. Fohr, who hails from Grand Forks and grew up there, used to frequently accompany his father Roger to UND games. Sadly, Roger, who served as an off-ice official, passed away from cancer in January 2023.

Fohr acknowledged, “Indeed, we did discuss it. It’s quite a remarkable place for me, and having someone like EJ show interest in it is pretty awesome.”

Rarely do people associate an EJ Emery, a Black kid interested in playing hockey, with North Dakota, correct? However, after engaging in meaningful conversations about the city and town, we learned a lot. The University of North Dakota (UND) did an exceptional job during the recruitment process, ensuring EJ and his family felt at ease. They provided opportunities for him to experience the environment, meet football players, and connect with other individuals. It seemed like EJ found a place that felt like home to him, and that’s how I interpreted it.

According to North Dakota hockey coach Brad Berry, Emery caught the team’s attention during his time at Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford, British Columbia during the 2021-22 season.

Berry stated, “Upon entering the recruiting process, we established a mutual understanding where we got to know each other, resulting in a comfortable rapport. Our player recruitment is guided by specific criteria, disregarding factors such as origin or identity. The crucial aspect is the individual’s character, and he fulfilled every requirement we had.”

Emery, standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 183 pounds, holds the distinction of being UND’s first Black player since Akil Adams. Adams, a defenseman, played in 18 games for the team from 1992 to 1994.

North Dakota has had diverse rosters since. Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, a United States-born player who is Indigenous, played there from 2005-08. Center Jordan Kawaguchi, a Canada-born player of Japanese ancestry, played for UND from 2017-21 and was team captain in his final season.

Adams, who pursued a career in the minor leagues and Germany post-university, was thrilled by Emery’s choice to join the Rangers and his dedication to North Dakota.

Adams, a resident of Detroit, expressed his loyalty, saying, “Although I live in Detroit, I remain a true North Dakota guy. It’s great to see someone else from there, and I believe it says a lot about his abilities as a player.”

© University of North Dakota Athletics

A dual Canada-U.S. citizen, Emery had 16 assists in 61 games for the NTDP Under-18 team last season and 28 points (two goals, 26 assists) in 121 games through two seasons with the program. He had six assists in seven games for the silver medal-winning U.S. in the 2024 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship; his plus-15 rating put him in a three-way tie for the best in the tournament.

Since the draft, Emery’s summer has been a whirlwind. Immediately after Las Vegas, he headed to New York to participate in the Rangers development camp from July 2-5.

“It was an incredible experience,” he exclaimed. “Training alongside professional hockey players and immersing myself in their world gave me a firsthand glimpse into the life of a pro athlete.”

Emery is currently enrolled in summer courses at UND and getting ready for an eventful October 5th, which marks the start of preparations for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game against Providence in Grand Forks.

He stated that his primary objective and primary concentration is to secure a national championship and will do whatever it takes to achieve that. He added that every member of the team shares the same mindset, aiming to improve every day and do whatever is necessary to go as far as possible.