Norton Congratulates Coach Neal Henderson on Induction into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today congratulated Coach Neal Henderson of the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club for his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in a Congressional Record statement. Henderson moved to the District in the 1960s and has gotten our youth enthusiastic about hockey for decades. Henderson's Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club is a developmental program that provides local and inner-city youth with the opportunity to participate in an organized ice hockey program. The team colors are black, gold and white, symbolic of African-American history in the District – black soldiers, brass buttons and white officers.

"Coach Henderson richly deserves this recognition for his decades of commitment to the District's hockey programs and our local youth sports," Norton said. "Coach Henderson embodies the best values of the District of Columbia and its residents. This is a well-deserved induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame."

Norton's Congressional Record statement is below.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Recognizing the Achievements of Neal Henderson

September 6, 2019

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Coach Neal Henderson on his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Over the past 40 years, Coach Henderson has led the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, known as the Cannons.

Henderson fell in love with hockey at a young age when his father, a Merchant Marine, was stationed in St. Catharines, Ontario during World War II. After moving back to the U.S., he settled in the District of Columbia in the 1960s with his family. He shared his love of hockey with those willing to learn and soon recognized interest in the game far exceeded the narrow streets of the District where he taught neighborhood kids.

To meet the demand, Henderson started renting ice space at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena and, in 1978, he established the Cannons with his high school classmate, Betty Dean. For the next 40 years, he coached the Cannons at For Dupont Ice Arena and continues to be a community icon. Coach Henderson saw hockey as an opportunity to give youth from predominantly low-income communities a chance to play and develop greater connections through the game. Henderson's Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club is a developmental program that provides local and inner-city youth with the opportunity to participate in an organized ice hockey program. The team colors are black, gold and white, symbolic of African-American history in the District – black soldiers, brass buttons and white officers.

The Cannons is one of the oldest minority hockey club in North America. The team is made up of 50 players between the ages of 8-18 predominantly from Southwest and Northwest D.C. neighborhoods and has been recognized by the Washington Capitals. Henderson and his players had the unique opportunity to touch the Stanley Cup in June 2018 when the Capitals came to Fort Dupont.

Henderson's organization has supported over 1,000 children since its inception in 1978 and encourages students to succeed beyond the rink. Coach Henderson's program has an 85% high school graduation rate, and he incorporates educational activities, such as visits to museums and colleges, when the team travels for tournaments.

Henderson embodies the best values of the District of Columbia and its residents. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Neal Henderson for his achievements and contributions to the District of Columbia and its children, and for his well-deserved induction into the Hockey hall of Fame.