Sabres to celebrate Val James Night on November 6

November 1 marks the 40th anniversary of Val James' NHL debut and the Buffalo Sabres will commemorate the milestone during their next home game on Saturday, November 6 against the Detroit Red Wings.
When James suited up for the Sabres for the first time in 1981, he became the first Black American to play in the NHL. The accomplishment was overlooked at the time, but the moment's significance has garnered the attention it deserves over the past few years.
James, who resides in Niagara Falls, Ontario, will be unable to attend the game, but shared his heartfelt thanks to the Sabres community for organizing the night.
"I'm afraid I will not be able to join you on November 6 for the game, but I still appreciate the fact that you are supporting me and honoring me for my achievement of becoming the first African American to play NHL hockey 40 years ago," James said in a video statement released by the team.

During pregame warmups, the team will wear custom black jerseys featuring the "Breaking Barriers" logo designed last season by local artist Edreys Wajed as the crest.
Warm-up pucks with the "Breaking Barriers" logo will be used by both teams, and coaches and broadcasters will wear special lapel pins with the logo during the game. Fans will have the opportunity to win warmup pucks through various giveaways and sweepstakes on Saturday.

"The first African-American in the NHL was a Buffalo Sabre. I think that's rich to have as a piece because it's going from 2021 and throwing that thread all the way back to then," Wajed said of his design. "So, you're kind of like joining these pieces together so that people understand it was and is a part of the Sabres that you cheer on today. You can't omit that part. When you're rocking the blue and the gold, that's a part of it too."
The Sabres are donating 100 tickets to local youth organizations, including the Buffalo Police Athletic League, Breaking Barriers, Girls Sports Foundation, Hasek's Heroes and Confident Girl Mentoring, to the game.

The Buffalo Sabres Foundation has also donated $10,000 to the Buffalo Police Athletic League Can-Ice Learn to Skate program, which includes the installation of a new synthetic ice rink located at the Hennepin Community Center. The rink will be operated by Buffalo PAL and will be used to provide kids in the city with an opportunity to learn to skate and play hockey, many for the first time.

Born in Florida and raised on Long Island, where he learned to skate as a teenager, James developed a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in professional hockey.
James played in 10 NHL games - including three in the Stanley Cup Playoffs - with Buffalo in 1981-82, and another four regular-season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1986-87.
In 1983, he scored the goal that clinched the Calder Cup Trophy for the Rochester Americans.

James wrote about his experiences and struggles in his autobiography, "Black Ice," with John Gallagher.
"When you're persevering through uncharted territory, there are going to be a lot of people that are going to come out to your aid to help you, and in my case that's exactly what happened," James told NHL.com last year. "I appreciate all the help these people gave me because they took a hell of a chance coming out to help a Black person at that point in time."