Episode XXI: Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr

The 21st edition of Whe're They At features 7-time National Hockey League All-Star, 5-time Stanley Cup champion, Hockey Hall of Fame and member of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players of All-Time, Grant Fuhr. Grant is one of 13 Goaltenders in NHL history to win over 400 career games. He won five Stanley Cups with the dynastic Edmonton Oilers of the mid-late 1980's. He won the Vezina Trophy, recognizing the NHL's best goalie in 1987-88. Most importantly, he was a pioneer by becoming the first Black player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (2003). He co-wrote an autobiography called, Grant Fuhr: Portrait of a Champion and was featured in a documentary about his life called Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story. He was named to the NHL's 100 Greatest Players of All-Time list in 2017. Grant has been humanitarian with his involvement in countless charities. Host Nabaté Isles had the honor to speak with Grant on a variety of topics including:                01:57-Whe're is Grant Fuhr at now?                           02:27-How he and his family are dealing with the pandemic?                        03:22-On his upbringing as an adopted child.                   05:27-Athletes past and present that have inspired him.                        06:06-On how the great goaltender Terry Sawchuk was Grant's barometer throughout his career.                    07:20-He didn't experience discrimination as he was a teenager playing hockey in Canada.                   08:21-Did he feel pressure with the Edmonton Oilers as there were a few goaltenders in their system?                      09:28-On his ups-and-downs during his first couple of seasons in the National Hockey League.                       12:24-On his healthy competition with Andy Moog.                   13:27-What made the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers the widely recognized greatest team of All-Time?                         15:00-Did he and a fellow Black sports pioneer based in Edmonton during the early-mid 1980's, Warren Moon communicate often?                         16:06-Hockey always took his mind off tough times especially losing his father in 1986.                   17:16-Grant's approach and preparation as an elite goalie.                          19:58-How the American expansion and the in-flux of Europeans and Russians impacted the game starting in the 1980's?                       20:51-The on and off the ice impact of his friends and former teammates, Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.                          23:49-On his historic 1987-88 season.                        25:06-Is Goaltender the most pressure packed position in sports?                          25:55-On his substance abuse and how seeking help led to his eventual suspension.                     30:15-Moving from team to team after the Oilers traded him.                    32:20-On playing for Coach Mike Keenan and training with Bob Kersee in St. Louis, resurrecting his career.                                  34:26-The disappointment of being injured, missing the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs.                     35:16-Reuniting with Gretzky and finally being teammates with Al MacInnis in St. Louis.                    36:14-Advice he shares with young athletes.                            38:15-On his last season with the Calgary Flames, how bittersweet it was as he lost his Mother.                      39:04-On mentoring Black players, Goalie Fred Brathwaite and future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla in Calgary.                        40:15-The significance of being the first Black player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.                40:58-The influence of the 1st Black player in the NHL, Willie O'Ree.                    41:45-What are the steps that the NHL are taking to gain more Black players?                43:13-Names Black players who haven't received true recognition.                      44:25-On All-Star caliber Black players, Seth Jones and the charismatic P.K. Subban.              45:12-On the rise of hockey in Jamaica, including possible #1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Quinton Byfield.                 46:07-Who is the best Goalie in the NHL right now?                    47:04-Can the current Oilers go far with the Goalie tandem of Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen?                 47:37-How great can current Oilers stars, Leon Drisaitl, Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins be?                        48:28-Should the NHL resume the season?                 49:11-There is nothing like the Stanley Cup Playoffs.               50:38-Does Alex Ovechkin have a chance to break Gretzky's career goals mark?                 51:20-POWER PLAY segment of random questions for Grant.   57:14-How can the NHL become visible?                     58:12-What are the pros and cons on the current game?                   Follow Whe're They At on www.twitter.com/whe_retheyat, www.instagram.com/whe.retheyat and www.facebook.com/whe.retheyatpodcast/ !                   Musical selections are from Nabaté Isles' album, 'Eclectic Excursions', available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, Tidal, etc. Check out his website as well: www.nabateisles.com