Anthony Duclair and the San Jose Sharks will celebrate Black History Night tonight.

Anthony Duclair and the San Jose Sharks will celebrate Black History Night tonight.

Duclair, Justin Bailey, and Givani Smith are the only black players on the Sharks roster. It is also significant to note that Sharks GM Mike Grier is the first black GM in NHL history. 

"I think it's special. For me personally, he's a guy that I grew up watching," Duclair said about Grier. "As a black hockey player growing up, it's human nature to be attached to other black people who are having success. Mike was one of those guys I looked up to."

The Sharks are following Duclair around today and what his gameday routine is like. 

Unfortunately for Duclair, he won't be able to wear a specialty warmup jersey due to the NHL's ban.

"That was weird," Duclair said about his thoughts on the league's decision. "That was a head-scratcher," Duclair said today, "I obviously don't agree with it at all, but obviously, a night like tonight, or any night that we celebrate, should be celebrated properly, and I think having those specialty jerseys for whatever event it is, the boys embrace it."

Duclair said he still plans to raise money with the jersey despite being unable to wear it on the ice. 

"It sucks that we can't wear it, but I'm still going to do my best to get it and donate it somehow, trying to raise funds that way, but I would definitely like to see a little bit of improvement for next season in trying to bring those specialty jerseys back," Duclair said.

He also said he expects the NHLPA to work on reversing the ban during the upcoming offseason. 

"That is a hot topic that they need to bring up, for sure. I'm not the only one," Duclair said. "With breast cancer awareness and Indigenous nights, we have so many cultures in this league and so many guys who support different initiatives. Everything is personal to them, just like me, Givani, and Justin. This is a personal night for us."

"You want to represent. You want to support other guys that support other initiatives," Duclair continued. "We want to come together and be one, and it's nights like tonight where the jerseys can be beneficial."

Duclair said he has been looking forward to this night since the schedule came out. He is one of the founders of the Hockey Diversity Alliance and stated that the NHL and HDA haven't been working together recently. 

"There hasn't been any relationship as of late, to be honest," Duclair said. "I think the NHL is doing their own stuff, and we're doing our own thing. I think we're just focusing on that right now. Just having all those sponsors and everybody supporting us. I think our focus is just to keep doing the good work, and hopefully, one day, [we] can work out, but for now, I think the HDA is doing a great job."

Duclair's name has been in trade rumors for what feels like the entire season, but the fact he is still in San Jose and able to celebrate this special night should make tonight extra special for him. 

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