The Columbus Blue Jackets highlighted on Mar. 10 the journey of Jet Greaves, one of only 12 Black goaltenders to reach the National Hockey League, as part of their ongoing celebration of Black History Month and the team’s 25th season.
The story matters as it showcases both diversity in professional hockey and the role that family support can play in reaching elite levels of sport. Greaves’ path from backyard rinks in Cambridge, Ontario, to starting goalie for the Blue Jackets reflects not only personal dedication but also the influence of his father Gerry and brother Kai.
Gerry Greaves began playing goalie at age 35 after growing up in Markham, Toronto, where he played house league hockey but never had access to goaltending equipment. “The funny thing was obviously NHL guys compared to brand-new me, I was getting lit up,” Gerry said. “But I just said, if they’re asking me to keep coming out, I’m going to make it my point to try to get better. And all that stuff that I learned watching videos and everything, I used all that that was on the internet to help teach Jet to start off at first.” His late start did not stop him from becoming a coach for Jet’s youth teams or from building a backyard rink where his sons could practice.
Jet’s early passion for goaltending was inspired by watching players like Carey Price during World Junior Championships. “He wanted me to be a player for like three more years and learn how to skate and learn the whole game that way, and then become a goalie,” Jet said about his father’s initial reluctance. “I was kind of like, ‘Come on, come on, let me play.'” Eventually allowed into net at age seven thanks in part to a friend’s switch from goalie to defenseman before tryouts, Jet became his team’s sole netminder.
Family competition fueled development: Kai played defense while Jet took shots in both basement drills and backyard games. Their mother Brenda also participated by throwing balls for saves indoors. The brothers balanced hockey with baseball until they each focused on their chosen sports—Kai now plays at Princeton University.
Discipline and preparation were emphasized throughout their upbringing. “One of the things is how dialed he’s been ever since day one… If you said, ‘OK, you have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow morning,’ you would never have to say it twice,” Gerry said about his sons’ commitment. As a firefighter with a tattoo reading ‘No shortcuts,’ Gerry instilled similar values in Jet: “There’s no shortcuts, and I think he’s that way in every aspect of life… That attention to detail and that focus and drive are things that he’s instilled in me and I’m super grateful for,” Jet said.
Looking back on his journey so far—now four seasons into an NHL career with strong statistics—Jet credits his family’s unwavering support: “Our parents were always available for us… They’re a bigger part of everything than I was almost, so I’m super grateful for that.”
