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The name Dorrington is not well-known in Rangers history but it should be, and here’s why.

Back in the early 1950s the Blueshirts had a farm team in Atlantic City. They were called the Sea Gulls and played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League against teams such as the New York Rovers, another Rangers farm team.

Art Dorrington, an African-Canadian, was a Sea Gulls star and signed a Rangers contract.

Unfortunately the Blueshirts failed to promote Dorrington - their mistake - but he became historic nonetheless, becoming the first black player to sign an NHL contract, paving the way for players such as Willie O’Ree.

After retiring, Art settled in Atlantic City and organized one of the best kids programs in North America.

“I went down to A.C. and did a feature on Dorrington,” Stan Fischler recalls. “He was one of the most popular figures in the resort city.”

Happily, I report the Dorrington name lives on not only with the Rangers organization but the Islanders as well.

While not being known for producing top NHL talent like certain collegiate programs, Sacred Heart University, in Fairfield, Connecticut, has steadily made its mark on professional hockey. To begin the 2024-25 season, the Pioneers had 18 alumni suit up at the professional level.

Justin Danforth, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was the only NHLer. By the end of the season, an additional four players from the Pioneers 2024-25 roster got a taste of professional hockey. Including Max Dorrington.

At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Max received a professional tryout from the Bridgeport Islanders and skated in seven AHL games.

“I was actually at my house in Bridgeport when he [Dorrington’s agent] told me I was gonna sign there.

“I told my roommate and he was obviously super excited. Then I just let my parents know, and I was at practice pretty much the next day. So it all happened really quick.”

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Dorrington had the opportunity to attend his first NHL development camp, with the New York Islanders, and cherished every moment.

“It's been a crazy experience, you know, just being in the facilities, getting treated like an NHLer for the week, being in the gear, it's all pretty surreal.”

Dorrington signed a one-year AHL contract with Bridgeport on July 1, and is preparing for his first full professional season.

When asked about his distant cousin, Art, this is what Max had to say.

“He's the first black player to sign an NHL contract. And I think that that's a pretty important milestone, especially because he did it for the Rangers in this exact same area.

“He's kind of had an impact here, especially on hockey. So, yeah, I wear the name proudly, and I definitely think about it.”

Max is the Islanders’ Dorrington, but what about the Rangers?

Max’s brother, Jackson, played his collegiate career at Northeastern University, and is now on the opposite side of the New York rivalry.

Jackson, a sixth round draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks in 2022, was acquired by the Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade.

“We got to play each other three times at the end of the year in the AHL, so that was our first time ever playing against each other,” Max recalls. “We train together in the summer. We kind of feel like we're on the same team, working towards the same goals, but then once October comes around, it's gonna all change, and we're going at it again.”

Both brothers are preparing for the beginning of their professional careers, and it’s safe to say they are looking forward to it, especially Max.

"It's the first time in my life where there's no more school, there's no more distractions, it's just gonna be hockey all the time, and I'm pretty excited for that.”

Art Dorrington would be proud!

A Name That Should Be Well Known In Rangers History