SAGINAW, MI — Members of the Saginaw Spirit hockey team will join Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) for a special screening of the documentary Beyond Their Years, a film that honors the athletic and social justice contributions of Herb Carnegie, a hockey trailblazer, and Buck O’Neil, a baseball legend. Presented by SVSU’s Office of Diversity Programs, the event will include a live panel discussion led by Rico Phillips, Director of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion for the Ontario Hockey League.
The screening will be held on Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Malcolm Field Theatre at SVSU’s Curtiss Hall. Following the film, a 30-minute panel discussion will delve into themes of inclusivity and the power of sports in social change, with Phillips moderating. The evening will conclude with a reception. This event is free and open to the public, with registration appreciated.
Created by filmmakers Bryant McBride and Daniel Horgan, Beyond Their Years celebrates Carnegie and O’Neil, both of whom used their exceptional talents to challenge racial barriers in sports.
Herb Carnegie, denied entry into the NHL due to racial prejudice, built a remarkable career in Canada’s senior hockey leagues. After retiring, he became an influential figure in finance and founded Future Aces, one of Canada’s first hockey schools. Carnegie, who passed away in 2012, was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder Category in 2022 and is honored in 14 halls of fame, including the Ontario and Canada Sports Halls of Fame.
Similarly, John “Buck” O’Neil’s impact on baseball was profound. Over nearly 80 years, O’Neil excelled as a player, manager, coach, scout, and executive. After years with the Kansas City Monarchs, he broke new ground as the first Black coach in Major League Baseball when he joined the Chicago Cubs coaching staff in 1962. O’Neil’s contributions were formally recognized with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The event promises a unique opportunity to reflect on the contributions of these icons and to engage in meaningful conversation about equity in sports. The event is free but registration is encouraged.
