Neil Henderson has spent the last 30 years helping Washington D.C.'s youth learn to play hockey. Not only does he serve as the head coach of the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, but he also acts as a mentor and father figure to the hundreds of kids who have gone through the minority program.

Founded by Henderson is the late 70s, the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club is a developmental program that provides local and inner-city youth with the opportunity to participate in an organized ice hockey program. It aims at providing educational purpose to young people, while teaching discipline and establishing self esteem. The club is a member of the National Hockey League's Diversity Program, for which Henderson serves as a vice president.

Beyond inspiring many young players on the coaching side, Henderson has been playing the game since his childhood and is a pioneer among African-Americans in the sport. Born in 1937 in St Croix, Virgin Islands, Henderson began skating after his family moved to Canada while his father was an officer in the American Merchant Marines.

Afer a short stint in the Air Force, Henderson's love for hockey led him back to the sport in the late 1950s and '60s, as he became the first African-American to play on a semi-pro team when he suited up for the Salk Lake City Seagulls in the Eastern Hockey League. In his 14 year pro career, he also spent time with the Baltimore Clippers, Washington Patriots and the Washington Chiefs.

Now at almost 70 years old, Henderson is still playing hockey with the Geri-Hatricks, a senior men's team that he led to the gold medal at the 2002 Senior Olympics. In that same year, he also received one of the sporting world's highewst honors when he was asked to carry the Olympic torch through Washington D.C.

Henderson and his wife, Bernice, have ne son, Neal, and three grandchildren, Neal, Briana and Mykaila.