Hockey captain 鈥楰rash鈥 Green breaking racial barriers in sport
Kryshanda 鈥楰rash鈥 Green at Ryerson鈥檚 Mattamy Athletic Centre and former Maple Leaf Gardens 鈥 where her grandfather once played. Photo credit: Nikita Ovsyannikov.
Kryshanda 鈥淜rash鈥 Green remembers the day hockey changed for her forever.
She was 11.
Her team had just scored a goal in overtime to take the win, and she excitedly skated to centre ice to shake hands.
鈥淚 was first in the line, and the first three people on the opposing team, each of them called me the 鈥楴 word鈥 as we were going through the handshake,鈥 she said.
Shocked, Green 鈥 who grew up in Brampton, Ont., and was one of the few Black players in the Ontario Women鈥檚 Hockey Association (OWHA) league 鈥 fell out of the line and skated off the ice in a daze.
The moment had a lasting impact.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 take anything from the sport for me, but it made me realize that I was different. I wasn鈥檛 just a kid playing hockey,鈥 she said.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think about winning anymore. My first thought was, 鈥榃hat am I going to do if they call me that again? What鈥檚 my reaction going to be?鈥欌 she continued, noting that to this day before a game, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the number one thing I think about.鈥
But she hasn鈥檛 let it defeat her.
Hear Kryshanda 鈥楰rash鈥 Green share her story about overcoming racism and becoming an inspiration to others. Producer: Lindsey Craig, Camera/Editor: Nikita Ovsyannikov.
鈥榃hat Krash has done鈥s remarkable鈥
Instead, with the support of her family 鈥 including her grandfather, Bill Riley, the third Black man to play in the NHL 鈥 Green has pushed racial boundaries and conquered them.
Today, the 26-year-old is not only still in the game 鈥 she鈥檚 a leader within it: Green is now in her fifth season on the Ryerson Rams women鈥檚 hockey team 鈥 and her second season as captain.
鈥淲hat Krash has done with our program is remarkable,鈥 said head coach Lisa Haley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the confidence that she has, not just in herself and her own abilities but also in those around her.鈥
Green, who鈥檚 graduating this spring with a degree in criminal justice and criminology, says her teammates are a big part of her success as well.
鈥淭he girls believe in me, they expect things from me鈥t keeps me working hard. They support me and encourage me to be the best I can be,鈥 she said.
Playing in the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) 鈥 former Maple Leaf Gardens 鈥 where her grandfather once played 鈥 is especially meaningful. So much so, Rogers Sportsnet featured Riley and Green in the Hometown Hockey segment, .
鈥淭he fact that my grandfather once played in this building, you know, he let me know he scored a goal here鈥t鈥檚 very inspiring but keeps me competitive to beat whatever he did,鈥 she said with a grin.
Kryshanda 鈥楰rash鈥 Green says young, Black female players should believe in themselves and 鈥渒eep pushing.鈥 Photo credit: Nikita Ovsyannikov.
Representation is critical
Just as her grandfather inspired her, Green is now inspiring others.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of Black fathers that come to the games and they usher their daughters down to take a picture with me, to show them, you know, that they can be captain too if they want,鈥 she said.
Having that representation is critical, says sociology professor Nicole Neverson, who studies the socio-cultural aspects of sport and gender in Ryerson鈥檚 Faculty of Arts.
鈥淲hen we鈥檙e able to see individuals who look like us in positions that we aspire to it helps to create a reality in our minds that the same could be possible for us,鈥 she said, adding that it鈥檚 equally important for non-racialized people to see racialized people in these roles too.
She also points out that being the first racialized person in a particular position comes with added pressure.
鈥淏eing the first is incredible. It is historic. On the other hand鈥 being the first can also be very lonely,鈥 she explained.
Neverson also cautions that when minority groups break into certain positions in sport, many believe issues such as racism and sexism no longer exist.
鈥淭his is very problematic because one person in such a leadership role won鈥檛 change the broader culture,鈥 she said, and notes that ensuring spaces in sport are inclusive, equitable, and anti-oppressive is a responsibility of non-racialized people as well.
鈥榊ou belong here鈥
Coach Haley says if there鈥檚 ever a team that can demonstrate progress in this regard, it鈥檚 Ryerson 鈥 one of the most ethnically diverse teams in the country.
鈥淥ur team is a great reflection of the city of Toronto and of Ryerson. We pride ourselves on our inclusivity and diversity. It doesn鈥檛 matter what colour your skin is or your orientation is, you belong here,鈥 she said.
Green says she has hope for the future of hockey and gives advice to other young Black females in the game.
鈥淜now that you are capable鈥 always believe in yourself and keep pushing,鈥 she said, adding that anyone who鈥檚 experienced a traumatic incident like she did shouldn鈥檛 go through it alone.
鈥淭alk to people. Part of the reason I don鈥檛 think I really escaped worrying about what happened to me is I didn鈥檛 tell anybody. I wasn鈥檛 in the company of people where I expressed, 鈥業鈥檓 really afraid of what鈥檚 going on鈥. So, if you have something on your mind, really express it and really talk about it. It will help you build your game,鈥 she said.
February is Black History Month. For events at Ryerson, please visit /equity/events-workshops/.
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