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1	POWER ISSUE MASTERS OF INFLUENCE—power in America Our short list of the most powerful Hispanics, from familiar faces, to those destined to be known. read more...
2	GOOD CALL How Padre Alberto followed the voice in his heart to become an international media mogul, a self-help coach and a bestselling author. read more...
3	VEGAS’ SAFEST BET— power in media Univision news director Adriana Arevalo steers Spanish-language coverage in the nation’s second fastest growing Hispanic television market. read more...
4	TAKING WING—power through philanthropy Made up of determined high profile Latin American artists and business people, the organization ALAS is launched. read more...
5	EN LA LUCHA A photo essay from shutterbug Malcolm Venville’s Lucha Loco, a collection of photographic portraits featuring masked lucha libre wrestlers. read more...
6	IN GOOD COMPANY The nation’s top Hispanic-friendly firms. read more...
7	SPEAK OF THE DEVIL Hockey phenom Scott Gomez of the New Jersey Devils is slap-shooting his name into the history of the sport. read more...
8	TOP HONORS The military leaders awarded by Hispanic Magazine. read more...

Scott Gomez puts Hispanics on the National Hockey League map.

The accolades keep mounting for Scott Gomez of the New Jersey Devils. In his seventh season in the National Hockey League (NHL), Gomez has already been named the 2000 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year, been an NHL All-Star, won the heralded Stanley Cup twice, and has represented the United States in the 2004 Ice Hockey World Championships and in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. And at 27, Gomez still has a lot of hockey left in the tank.
Scott Carlos Gomez was born on December 23, 1979 in Anchorage, Alaska, the son of a Mexican-American construction worker, and a Colombian-American homemaker. As the story goes, Scott became enamoured with hockey while attending a University of Alaska hockey game with his father, Carlos, at the age of 5. There, Scott found the fast pace and excitement of the game intriguing and was on the ice soon after—the rest, as they say, is history.
Gomez blossomed as a hockey player in his teens as a junior hockey standout with the Tri-Cities Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL). His vision and skill led to his call-up to the Team USA select-16 team, where his talent did not go unnoticed by NHL scouts. He became the first Hispanic to be chosen in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft when the New Jersey Devils selected Gomez with the 27th pick in 1999.
Few rookies make the adjustment from junior hockey to the NHL, but Gomez was a very special rookie. At a time when the NHL was a breeding ground for bigger, stronger players who could use their imposing frame to decide games, standing at 5’11” and weighing less than 200 pounds during his rookie season, Gomez was hardly a giant by NHL standards. Yet Gomez’s fine preseason displays forced the Devils’ hand and earned him a spot on the New Jersey Devils roster to start the 1999-2000 season.
The window of opportunity had opened and Gomez took full advantage, scoring 19 goals and chipping in 51 assists for a total of 70 points—breaking the Devils’ previous rookie points record of 63 points held by Kevin Todd. His tremendous season did not go unnoticed and Gomez was rewarded with a spot in the 2000 NHL All-Star game as a rookie. The experience would see Gomez lineup with some of the greatest names in hockey, including: his idol Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and teammate Martin Brodeur. Gomez’s incredible rookie season culminated in the New Jersey Devils winning the Stanley Cup, where “Gomer,” as he is affectionately known by his teammates, scored 10 points (four goals and six assists) in 23 games. In his Calder Trophy acceptance speech, Gomez stated that he was just a little Mexican kid who went to New Jersey, demonstrating a sense of genuine humility that typifies many Hispanic athletes.
Thus far, Gomez’s career has seen him sip from the Stanley Cup twice as he played a crucial role in helping the Devils reclaim the coveted trophy for the second time in their history in 2003. Gomez’s most productive year came last season (2005-06), where he managed an impressive 84 points (33 goals and 51 assists) in 82 games. He has also made his country proud, participating in the 2004 Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic and in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. But many believe the best of Gomez may be yet to come. With the recent rule changes instituted in the NHL prior to last season, the emphasis is now on speedy, skilled players—both attributes that Gomez possesses. Last season, Gomez shone in the new NHL, flashing his electric speed and his incredible hockey sense. Thus far this year he’s averaging a point per game, and barring any major injuries, should be able to equal, if not surpass, his career best 84-point season.
A great deal of praise has been heaped upon Scott Gomez for his hockey skills, but his trailblazing achievements also deserve some recognition. Gomez was the first Hispanic player drafted in the first round of the NHL draft. While a tremendous personal achievement, Gomez’s success has turned many Hispanics on to professional hockey. More and more young Hispanics are signing up to play hockey all across North America. More importantly, Gomez has opened doors that were previously closed to Hispanic American hockey players. Early in his hockey career Gomez was forced to deal with racial abuse and cultural ignorance. In his younger days, rising through the ranks of the Alaskan youth hockey program, Gomez was the subject of racial slurs from jealous opponents. It was on the ice that Scott first heard the disparaging remark: “Spic.”
Growing up in the multicultural environs of Alaska had shielded Gomez from bigotry for most of his life, but the pressure of competition unleashed the ugliness of some of his rivals. Gomez’s unheralded success was a deafening response to those who judged him based on his ethnicity, instead of on his ability. He fought through ignorance and not only persevered, but flourished in professional hockey, making him an instant role model for many
aspiring Hispanic players. “I think I have always felt that I was a model for not just Hispanic kids, but all kids, no matter what race, he says. “That was how I was raised.”
In fact, since Scott Gomez entered the NHL, two more Latino hockey players have followed suit, namely Raffi Torres, forward for the Edmonton Oilers (born in Canada of Peruvian parents) and Al Montoya, netminder for the New York Rangers (American-born of Cuban descent). “If kids see Gomez, Torres and Montoya on the back of a jersey, I hope it makes them realize that they too can play and watch the game,” says Gomez.
Gomez has undergone an evolution in his seven years in the NHL. He entered the league as a bright-eyed rookie. In less than a year, he became an icon and a promise for the future of American hockey. Today, Gomez is an established professional, past All-Star and ex-Olympian who is still fulfilling on the promise he showed in his inaugural season. He’s more than a great hockey player; he is a real-life example that hard work and dedication lead to greatness.