As a child, John Paris Jr. was a member of the only black family in Windsor, N.S. His father is an army veteran of WW2 and John Jr. was born to John “Buster” Paris and his wife Annie, in 1946. Buster was a noted baseball and hockey player for Windsor in the 1930s-invited to try out for the New York Giants. Buster has been a much loved, appreciated and honoured Windsorian. He was one of the best, flashiest, and most mischievous crowd-pleasers that Annapolis Valley baseball fans have ever known. John Jr. grew up observing his father’s ability to interact with people, coach teams to victory and motivate individuals to achieve to their full capacity. John Jr. has always given Buster credit for teaching him the basic skills upon which he built an outstanding career as an athlete, coach, motivator and world-class citizen.

When first confronted with racism while playing baseball in a Valley town as a youth, John asked his father to explain why fans were ‘booing’ him. Without hesitation, Buster answered, “Because you’re such a good player. The better you are, the more they will boo you! Don’t let it bother you. Just keep getting better.” John Jr. came to realize, ” If you’re black, you just have to be twice as good as the others if you’re going to make it.” John has always been just that. Under the further guidance of Murray Smith, one of Windsor’s finest athletes and coaches, John was voted MVP on every team and in every league he played in as a child and youth. He was bound for success in the world of hockey. Scotty Bowman scouted him for the Junior Canadiens training camp in 1964. John went to the Quebec Major Junior League and onto the Quebec Aces of the AHL. He has developed his total being to winning as a player and coach. His 5’5″ stature contributed to his inability to make it to the NHL. Following his career as a player, he coached Quebec teams to championships over a twenty-year period. He became a specialist in Nutrition, Sport Psychology and Motivation as well as Mental Preparation for a Winning Attitude. As a Motivator he has lectured across the USA, Canada, Europe and the former Soviet Union. He is also a respected TV hockey analyst and commentator and does speaking engagements on Substance Abuse and Family Therapy.

In March, 1994, he was named Head Coach of the Atlanta Knights of the IHL, the chief farm team of the Tampa Bay Lightning. In so doing, he became the first black head coach in the history of professional hockey and led the team to winning the IHL Turner Cup. In 1997 he went to Georgia’s Macon Whoopees of the CHL as Head Coach and GM. In 2001, he became Head Coach of Hockey in the IMG Sports Academy at Bradenton, Florida and has been involved in teaching, motivation and lecturing since that appointment. John loves telling people that hockey got its start in the same town where he got his, Windsor, Nova Scotia, the Birthplace of Hockey.

Bio Courtesy of Garth Vaughan