The Detroit News’s Mark Falkner penned an article discussing former U of M goaltender Al Montoya’s role as a trailblazer for Cuban-American and Latinx players. Montoya is now the director of community outreach for the Dallas Stars, and Red Wings prospect Donovan Sebrango is aware of Montoya’s status as a role model:
Montoya’s trailblazing role and the publicity surrounding the NHL’s celebration of Hispanic heritage have piqued the interest of Red Wings prospect Donovan Sebrango, whose father Eduardo played for the Cuban national soccer team and with Montreal and Vancouver in the Major Soccer League.
“I remember being around the dressing room when he played in Montreal,” said Sebrango, who was raised by his mother Kim after his parents divorced when he was young. “It’s one of those things you don’t really talk about unless you’re asked but it’s pretty cool and a big responsibility to be one of the few players who have that background and can represent the community.”
A third-round draft pick by the Red Wings in 2020 and now playing with the team’s minor-league affiliate in Grand Rapids, the 19-year-old Sebrango said he was asked about his Cuban-Canadian background while growing up and playing hockey in Ottawa, Kingston and Kitchener and it’s now something he’s “interested in learning more about” and telling others about the “competitiveness” of playing hockey.