Our Founder

The story of Future Aces begins with Herb Carnegie, a world-class professional hockey player who was prevented from ever playing in the NHL because of the colour of his skin . A dazzling, smooth-skating centre who won several MVP trophies over the years, many believed Dr. Carnegie was the best black player never to play in the biggest league of them all. The title of his autobiography, “A Fly in a Pail of Milk,” aptly summarizes how he was regarded by hockey’s all-white establishment at the time.

Born in 1919 to Jamaican immigrants, Dr. Carnegie fell in love with the game of hockey at an early age, playing on the frozen ponds in north Toronto and listening to Foster Hewitt call the play-by-play on the family’s wireless. Playing alongside his brother Ossie , the Carnegies played in the Ontario junior ranks before moving to the semi-pro Quebec Provincial League, where they teamed up  with Manny McIntyre to form the first all-black line in pro hockey. Although forced to give up on his dream, Dr. Carnegie nonetheless blazed the trail for those who followed.

After being forced to give up his dream, and with a strong desire to foster a more equitable society, Carnegie redirected his energies. He became a successful businessman and philanthropist, starting a hockey school called Future Aces. Reflecting the steadfast commitment of a community elder that believed that each individual can rise above unfair treatment and can empower one’s self to make choices that can make this world a better place, Carnegie created the Future Aces Foundation in 1987 with the purpose to “inspire and assist youth and adults  to become the best they can be as responsible, respectful, peaceful, confident, and caring citizens.”

Carnegie was named to the Order of Ontario in 1996, inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and named to the Order of Canada in 2003. 

In November 2022, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, in the Builder category.

Married for more than 60 years to his adoring wife, Audrey, who predeceased him, and loving father to three daughters and a son.

He died in 2012 at the age of 92.