Color of Hockey: Khan giving back as Ice Hockey in Harlem volunteer coach

William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog since 2012. Douglas joined NHL.com in 2019 and writes about people of color in the sport. Today, as part of NHL.com's celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Month, he profiles Umar Khan, a part-time New York Rangers hockey program instructor who helps coach players for Ice Hockey in Harlem and the 43 Oak Foundation in New York.

Umar Khan didn't know much about ice hockey as a New York-born Pakistani kid growing up in East Harlem.

"Ice Hockey in Harlem had an office in my elementary school, and one day they came to the auditorium and were, like, 'Hey, who wants to join this program?" Khan said. "I knew what ice hockey was, but I never understood the game, I knew it was a sport. I was, like, 'I'm going to try this.'"

Sixteen years later, Khan is immersed in hockey. The 26-year-old, who still lives in East Harlem, worked part time for the New York Rangers this season, helping with events at Madison Square Garden and fan activations away from the arena.

He was a program instructor for Rangers' hockey initiative last season, coaching youngsters. He's a volunteer coach for IHIH, and an assistant coach and intern with the 43 Oak Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring, connections and financial assistance to minority or underprivileged youth who want to play elite level hockey and continue their education through the sport.

Khan said his activities are his way of paying it forward to the sport that helped shape him into the person he is today.

"I want to give back, I want to make a difference," he said. "I want to work for these programs like Ice Hockey in Harlem, 43 Oak, Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation in Philadelphia. I want to do this as a full-time thing. I want to give the same impact that Hockey in Harlem gave to me to the kids."

IHIH provided Khan with free equipment, ice time and instruction that his family could not afford. Founded in 1987 by Dave Wilk, Todd Levy and former Rangers forward Pat Hickey, the program offers free hockey and academic enrichment programs to children ages 5-18 from the Harlem community.

It reinforces the value of staying in school and teaches life skills, discipline and the value of teamwork through the prism of hockey. IHIH is part of the NHL's Hockey Is For Everyone Initiative, which provides support and unique programming to more than 30 nonprofit youth hockey organizations across Canada.

"Ice Hockey in Harlem, I made sure they had my commitment," Khan said. "I was volunteering my first year in the program, around 12. I was helping with the equipment, anything, because I didn't want to leave the rink. Even though I didn't know what I was doing at the time, I was just there. At home, I was watching YouTube videos, trying to learn what a wrist shot is, how to stop. I gave my all to the program and what I got back was much more than I put into it."

Khan said he developed into a pretty good player through IHIH. He progressed to competitive spring leagues at New York's Chelsea Piers rink and earned scholarships to play for the New York City Skyliners and the New York City Cyclones Under-18 AA programs.

He played one season in Brooklyn for the Metro Fighting Moose of the North American 3 Hockey League in 2016-17, thanks to the 43 Oak Foundation which paid his playing fees.

"Umar is and was, when he played competitively, an exceptional hockey player," 43 Oak Foundation CEO Sean Grevy said. "He had all the tools to be a top-tier AAA hockey player. Unfortunately, I don't think Umar had access early enough to the coaching and the things needed to get to that level."

Khan said he's determined that others have those opportunities. He said his ultimate goal is to work for the NHL and help increase access to hockey in underserved communities.

"I want 1,000 Ice Hockey in Harlems around the country, and programs like 43 Oak that provides mentorship and guidance." he said. "Without 43 Oak, I wouldn't be playing hockey. These programs work. I'm 100-percent proof."

Photos: Umar Khan Sean Grevy