from Katie Carrera of the Washington Post,

On June 30, Seth Jones became not only the highest-drafted African American player in NHL history as the fourth overall pick, but also the new face of diversity in the league. It’s not a position he asked for, but one that he is ready to fill.

“Anything I can do to help the sport of hockey grow,” Seth Jones said. “Whether it’s with white people or black people, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy to do it.”

Jones turned 19 on Oct. 3, the same day he made his highly anticipated debut with the Nashville Predators. As he stepped on the ice for the first time in an NHL regular season game, his father watched proudly from the stands at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, confident that as the spotlight on the young defenseman grows, he is prepared to weather his complex position as young NHL star and role model.

Jones doesn’t identify himself as either black or white, but both. His mother, Amy, is white. Popeye is black. Now divorced, they taught Seth and his two hockey-playing brothers, Caleb and Justin, to be accepting of all races and ethnicities. Being among the few black players in their sport was irrelevant.

more and I am a bit surprised by the semi-critical comments on the artictle at the WP...