Suffolk Sports Hall of Famer Val James received the latest honor of his career when he was inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in January 2023.
James, a Hauppauge native, was the first African American to play in the NHL. He spent five years of his career playing for the Americans, an affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and scored the game-winning goal for Rochester in the 1983 Calder Cup.
Breaking barriers and winning championships…
Welcome to the Amerks Hall of Fame, Val James! pic.twitter.com/Ia0XmnKney
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) January 28, 2023