| Val James | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
February 14, 1957 Ocala, Florida, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Buffalo Sabres Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| NHL draft |
184th overall, 1977 Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 1978–1988 | ||
Valmore Curtis James[1] (born February 14, 1957) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 11 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1981 and 1986. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1978 to 1988, was spent in various minor leagues. He was the first African-American to play in the National Hockey League (Willie O'Ree was the first black, but is African-Canadian).